During a press conference in Lviv with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles announced a new $100M aid package aimed at repelling Russian airstrikes and helping Ukraine’s success on the frontlines.
Of this, $50M will go to short-range air defense systems, $30M to drone purchases for the Ukrainian military, and another $15M to equipment, including helmets, inflatable boats, gas masks, and electric generators. Australia will also provide air-to-ground AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles to Ukraine.
As Shmyhal clarified, as part of the drone coalition, the country will transfer drones worth $32.5M to Ukraine, as well as a batch of RBS 70 MANPADS worth several tens of millions of dollars. He added that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Australia has provided $655M in support to Ukraine, $540M of which is military aid.
In addition, to help the war-torn country, Australia extended the duty-free trade regime with Ukraine until July 2026.