On Sunday 28 April, Defence Minister Richard Marles announced $100 million in military aid to Ukraine. It was said to raise Australia’s support to $1 billion in support of Ukraine’s attempt to counter “Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion”.

I have hitherto addressed the issue of the “morality”, at least, of Russia’s invasion: Ukraine: The other side of the story, 25 November, 2022.

Recall these matters:

The war commenced on February 24, 2022. That Russia had legitimate concerns over its security cannot be doubted. One only has to consider the boot being on the other foot, and recall the 19th Century US concerns giving rise to the Monroe Doctrine, whereby European powers were warned off the Western Hemisphere. Then of course there was the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In his announcement Defence Minister Marles added that “Australia remains committed to supporting Ukraine to resolve the conflict on its terms”. It would be of interest to know what “its terms” are. Does Marles know what those “terms” are?

It is common knowledge that in April 2022,........

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