Australia Joins Five Eyes’ Rejection of Russia’s Annexation of Ukrainian Territories

Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on a screen set at Red Square as he addresses a rally and a concert marking the annexation of four regions of Ukraine Russian troops occupy - Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, in central Moscow on September 30, 2022. Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images

Australia has followed the Five Eyes allies—Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and United States—in rejecting Russia’s annexation and referendums in the contested territories of Ukraine.

The Australian government also announced another round of sanctions on those helping to organise referenda being held in the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said the federal government would be placing “targeted financial sanctions and travel bans” on 28 Russian-appointed separatists, ministers, and officials who flouted international law to aid the Russian government in legitimising its annexation of the four regions.

“These additional sanctions reinforce Australia’s strong objection to the actions of President Putin and those carrying out his orders,” Wong said. “The areas of Ukraine currently occupied by Russian forces are the sovereign territory of Ukraine. No sham referendum will change this.”

The Australian government also said any claims that these territories were part of Russia was “baseless and false.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a ceremony to sign treaties formally annexing four regions of Ukraine Russian troops occupy - Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, at the Kremlin in Moscow on September 30, 2022. Dmitry Astakhov/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

Australia to Support Ukraine in International Court of Justice

Additionally, Australia will also be filing an intervention in the International Court of Justice case brought by Ukraine against Russia to support its claim that Russian authorities violated the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

Australia’s Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the intervention demonstrated the government’s commitment to upholding the Genocide Convention.

“We stand with Ukraine in bringing these proceedings against Russia before the International Court of Justice,” Dreyfus said. “Our intervention underscores our commitment to upholding fundamental rules of international law and the integrity of the Genocide Convention.”

A destroyed tank during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the city of Sievierodonetsk in the Luhansk Region, Ukraine, on July 1, 2022. Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters

The federal government also called on the Russian government to immediately comply with the International Court’s legally binding order from March to immediately withdraw its military forces from Ukraine.

“We remind Russia that as a member of the United Nations, Russia is legally obliged to comply with decisions of the ICJ in any case to which it is a party,” the federal government said.

Joining Allies in Condemning Land Grab

The move by the federal government comes after Canada, New Zealand (NZ), and the U.S. similarly rejected the annexation.

“These so-called referenda were not free or fair, and they very clearly were not held in accordance with democratic principles,” NZ Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said.

“New Zealand remains in solidarity with Ukraine in defence of its sovereignty and territorial integrity and the rules-based international system,” she said.

Ukrainian soldiers ride on an armoured vehicle in Novostepanivka, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on Sept. 19, 2022. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, U.S. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the referendums “illegitimate and frankly outrageous” and said the country would “never” recognise the attempts to annex Ukrainian territory.

“We will work with our allies and partners to impose additional economic costs on Russia and individuals and entities inside and outside of Russia that provide support to this action,” she said.

“We will rally global opposition to Russia’s attempts at annexation, including at the United Nations.”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also said he had promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy his country would do whatever it could to stop the “sham referendums.”

Rebecca Zhu contributed to this article.