Renee Coffey (Griffith, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Recently, I was honoured to join with our local Ukrainian community at Kangaroo Point in my electorate of Griffith for a solemn vigil in remembrance and solidarity. It was an emotional evening as we stood together to mark four years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and 12 years since the illegal occupation of Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine began. The Australian government stands firmly with Ukraine against Russia's aggression. Since February 2022 we have provided more than $1.7 billion in humanitarian and energy assistance, and military assistance also. We stand with Ukraine in defence of its sovereignty and its right to live in peace.

We reiterate our call on Russia to end this unprovoked and unjustified war, and comply with its obligations under international law. We stand with Ukraine because borders cannot be redrawn by force. We stand with Ukraine because we stand for freedom and for the right of all nations to live in security, to raise their families in safety, to speak their language and to determine their own future. We may be half a world away, but we recognise what Ukrainians are defending: a home, a democracy, a people's right to exist and to choose their own path. Meeting with Ukrainian parliamentarians yesterday reinforced that this is a fight not only for Ukraine's territory but also for freedom, sovereignty and the right of a people to choose their own future. Slava Ukraini!

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