Murderous sanctions, a call for Putin and an end to the war: an interview with an Australian Senator

15th August 2022

Senator David Van visited Ukraine and declared his full support

David Van, a senator from the state of Victoria in Australia, visited Ukraine and once again expressed his support for our state. For his clear position, the official was put on the "black list" and banned from entering Russia, but this did not change the politician's conviction.

Read about what military aid Australia provides to Ukraine, what sanctions were introduced against the aggressor country and what the world needs to do to stop Putin.

"Beyond NATO, one of the largest donor aid comes precisely from Australia"

The war in Ukraine has been going on for almost 6 months. At the beginning of the full-scale Russian attack, all the world's attention was focused on the events in our country. However, over time, interest waned, people returned to their usual activities. Are Australians currently following or interested in the war in Ukraine?

I am the head of the Ukraine-Australia friendship group in the parliament. Precisely the purpose of the visit pursues two goals. The first is to show the Ukrainian authorities and society that the world is focusing on this event, that Australians care about this situation.

The second goal is to go back and tell the Australian government why we should continue to provide assistance, provide increased support, why it is important for Australia to continue to be one of those who support Ukraine.

*Senator David Van from the state of Victoria from Australia / Photo by Valentina Polishchuk, Channel 24*

What military aid does Australia provide to Ukraine? Do you think it could be bigger? (back in April, Ukraine received 20 Australian Bushmaster armored personnel carriers and military aid in the total amount of more than 20 million dollars. Then there were sanctions again, millions of dollars in aid).

Currently, the Australian government has already provided Ukraine with 16 or more Bushmaster military vehicles. These are armored personnel carriers with reinforced weapons for transporting soldiers. Our country also handed over 28 M113 armored personnel carriers. This is an older version of military vehicles, but it recommends itself very well precisely in rear operations. That is, when they are located behind the Bushmaster, which are considered one of the most modern.

Australia also provides drones. Today I came not alone, but together with the head of a respectable and large Australian military corporation, which precisely produces drones. They are already transferred and used to destroy enemy tanks and infantry. That is, what is considered heavy weapons.

*"One of the largest donor aid comes from Australia" / Photo by Valentina Polishchuk, Channel 24*

68 small drones have already been delivered to Ukraine. They operate at a distance of 15 kilometers. They perform a one-time mission, for example, destroy a tank, but never return to the base. Five units of larger drones were also provided. They can be used repeatedly and perform their mission at a distance of up to 70 kilometers. They can then return back to the station, recharge and continue their combat missions.

For example, Javelin, which we actively use against tanks, has an operational capability of up to two kilometers. And, for example, drones supplied to Ukraine by the Australian side, up to 50 kilometers. That is, it significantly increases the Ukrainian army's ability to destroy enemy equipment.

If you do not know where the enemy tanks are located, then at an altitude of 1.5 to 3 kilometers, you launch drones and they conduct reconnaissance of the area. A$399 million was also provided for body armor and first aid kits for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Outside of NATO, one of the largest donor aid comes from Australia.

Unprecedented sanctions

Australia is actively introducing sanctions against Russia and its officials. Are these sanctions enough? And are new, even more powerful ones being prepared? Especially against Russian companies.

As of now, the Australian government has probably introduced the heaviest and largest number of sanctions against the Russian Federation. Even more, perhaps, than the United States and the European Union. Personal sanctions were imposed against 827 Russian officials and businessmen. Personally against the President of the Russian Federation and also against the members of the National Security Council of Russia, which made the decision to invade Ukraine.

Sanctions were also imposed against 62 Russian companies. An additional, updated sanctions list is introduced almost every month. The website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Australia lists the full scope of sanctions against the energy industry, the financial sector of Russia, against all their strategic industries, business, against key persons in business and politics.

*Australia introduced personal sanctions against 827 Russian officials and businessmen / Photo by Valentina Polishchuk, Channel 24*

Oil and gas were not sanctioned because Australia does not import these types of products. Therefore, at the moment, the Australian government has already introduced the most unprecedented sanctions against the Russian economy and the Russian political regime.

A ban was also introduced on the export to Russia of all types of spare parts that can be used in the manufacture of weapons, for example, missiles or tanks in the first days of the war.

Could sanctions be the key to finally ending the war? What other restrictions should be introduced against Russia and Putin's regime?

I am not sure that the sanctions imposed by the world against Putin's regime can stop the war in the short term, but they can significantly weaken Russia in its attempts to continue its aggression against Ukraine.

One could expect more action from the European Union to stop the purchase of oil and gas from the Russian Federation, as well as the introduction of full-fledged sanctions against Russian financial institutions. In my opinion, some European countries, for example, Germany and France, could have done much more in terms of imposing sanctions, as well as in stopping the Putin regime from waging war in Ukraine.

For example, in Germany there are hundreds of first-generation Leopard tanks, which are currently being conserved and could be sent to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces to resist aggression. They have not used them for a long time, but they have hundreds and could send them to the defense of Ukraine.

France may not produce as many tanks, but as for lethal means, for example, airplanes, artillery, communication means, France could supply Ukraine. They are afraid of running out of gas, especially Germany, and to a lesser extent France. I hope that this is not related to the fact that they do not think about Ukraine.

Recently, a delegation from Australia led by the prime minister visited Buchi, Gostomel and Irpen. Did it somehow affect the position of your country? Why is this visit important?

Elections were held in May and a new government came to power. Before that, the Liberal Party, which I represent, was in power. During my party's time in power until May, A$275 million was given.

The new prime minister and the new government that won the elections supported Ukraine even before they headed the government . In July, there was a visit of the Prime Minister, during which it was announced about new financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of 100 million Australian dollars. Apparently, this is still not enough.

And my visit is also aimed at meeting with representatives of state bodies, the Ministry of Defense, the Verkhovna Rada, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to convey a position on what still needs to be done to support Ukraine.

What do you think would help Ukraine win this bloody war?

To begin with, you need more warplanes, tanks, more artillery and shells, drones, more long-range missiles and air defense equipment. As well as financial assistance from countries and international organizations to support the budget, so that Ukraine can save the economy and continue to wage war. Also, it will require a lot of money later on to restore the country.

*"We need more combat planes, combat tanks, more artillery and shells..." / Photo by Valentina Polishchuk, Channel 24*

"Putin understands only the language of power"

Ukraine is now calling on Western countries and the whole world to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. Is Australia ready to support such a decision?

Over the last decade, Australia has recognized as sponsors of terrorism such countries as Iraq, Libya, Syria, Afghanistan and so on. This is the prerogative of the government. In my personal opinion, such a decision, apart from contempt, will not bring material losses for Russia. Sanctions, which are accepted also with the approval of the parliament, give a greater result. Currently, there is no discussion about it in the parliament or the government. Perhaps because this discussion has only just begun.

The recognition of a country as a terrorist automatically prohibits its citizens from entering Australia under our law. From a moral point of view, I fully support it. But with regard to international law, whether it will give anything is difficult to answer. At the moment, sanctions appear to be most effective if they are used to their full extent and applied correctly.

Last week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke to students of Australian universities online. In his speech, it was clearly emphasized that if he (Putin - Channel 24) is afraid of losing face, then would he commit such atrocities that took place in Buch, Irpen and other cities of Ukraine. The message was clear that Putin can only understand the language of strength. Therefore, the most adequate option is to support Ukraine, provide weapons and other resources.

We also support the opinion that international organizations should inspect or take control of the situation at nuclear power plants.

*"At the moment, the sanctions look the most effective..." / Photo by Valentina Polishchuk, Channel 24*

"The Russian army is large in number, but the Ukrainian army has proven its effectiveness"

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, called on the world to close itself off from the Russians. Is Australia ready to do it?

The prerogative of such prohibitions belongs to the executive power, i.e. the Government. This visit allows us to collect possible information that would be useful to Ukraine. On my return I will raise questions with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs about this possibility.

Putin is very good at disinformation, but bad at war. the Russian army is large in number, but the Ukrainian army has proven its efficiency and professionalism. Ukraine can really win this war if it receives the right amount of weapons.

What, in your opinion, is the real reason for Russia's attack on Ukraine?

I am convinced that these are Putin's imperialistic aspirations. If the world allows Ukraine to lose, I fear for the future fate of Moldova and the Baltic states.

That is, do you think that Putin will not stop at Ukraine?

No, I will not stop, I will go further. There is no doubt that he will not stop at Ukraine if he is allowed to win here.

Imagine that Putin is standing in front of you now. What would you say to him?

You can't win, stop.

*"Putin is very good at using disinformation methods, but he is not good at waging war" / Photo by Valentina Polishchuk, Channel 24*

"The epithets about the "second army" in the world do not correspond to reality"

When do you think this war will end and how will it happen?

In fact, we currently have such a situation that the Russians are very actively losing people and equipment. They have supply problems in Kherson after Ukraine attacked their infrastructure. With the available support in tanks, artillery, and weapons, Ukraine has every real chance to repel and drive them out of Kherson, Luhansk and Donetsk regions and Crimea.

In my opinion, (Russians - Channel 24) is a large, but not high-quality, that is, not a professional army. All these epithets about the "second army" in the world are not true. We see that Ukrainian guys are much more professional. All the listed things - loss of equipment, loss of people - are not good signs for the Russian army. This suggests that with proper support from the West, there are very real chances to return all captured territories.

*"We see that Ukrainian boys are much more professional" / Photo by Valentina Polishchuk, Channel 24*

How did this war affect the whole world, particularly Australia?

In the last six months, when the war started, the world changed dramatically. For example, lack of fuel, energy resources, food. It is very good that it was possible to start the transportation of grain from Ukraine, which will definitely avoid hunger in the world.

As an example, the situation in Sri Lanka, where due to the fact that the government could not feed the population, turbulence began, mass protests began. And it is very good that they managed to restore the export of grain, because a repetition of the situation in other countries, such as in Sri Lanka, threatens instability.

How do you see the future of Ukraine? And Russia?

As for Russia, we already see that this is a country that did not happen. They wanted to strengthen their statehood by attacking Ukraine, but that did not happen, and Russia continues to lose it.

If we take into account the sanctions and, in accordance with the geographical dimensions, their very weak economy, the Russian Federation cannot continue in the future such aggressive actions that it is taking now. Therefore, we will continue to see internal weakness in this country.

If we are talking about Ukraine, then under the conditions of further restoration of this state, creation of jobs, I see that this should happen within the framework of the EU and NATO. After everything that has happened, it is impossible for Ukraine not to develop in the family of European institutions, the European Union, as well as NATO, which should be more actively involved in the recovery of the country's economy after the war.

Author: Alina Turyshyn She was born in the city of Chervonohrad, Lviv region. She studied at the Faculty of Journalism of the Kamianets-Podilskyi National University named after Ivan Ohienko. As a journalist, I am most interested in politics and social issues.

Interview with an Australian Senator