Mr FERGUSON (Bass) – Honourable Speaker, today, very welcome news has been received of a US brokered, 30-day ceasefire between Russia and the Ukraine. That has been accepted by the Ukraine, but not yet by Russia. I hope and pray that they do accept it, and so they should.
Three years ago, this House, with complete unity, passed a motion supporting the Ukrainian territorial sovereignty and its right to peace, freedom and democratic rule. We united around those principles. We also united to condemn the aggressive actions of Russia against the peace loving people of the Ukraine and any action that endangered human life and liberty. The full scale invasion of the Ukraine happened just over three years ago, but the conflict goes back 11 years. There has been an immense scale of loss of infrastructure, homes, communities and industries.
Of course, at its worst – as I am sure we all agree – it has been bloody. Many innocent lives have been lost. Families have been destroyed. Whether it is a loss of life of militants on either side or innocent civilians, those estimates vary, but they are in the hundreds of thousands. The best estimates suggest that perhaps 100,000 civilians have been killed. I note how hard it is to account for civilian or military losses in areas that are occupied by Russia that are in fact part of the Ukraine’s sovereign borders. This is a massive scar – what has happened in the last three or 11 years, take your pick. It is a massive scar in the landscape, in the culture and the psyche of the people of the Ukraine.
I am very proud to be a member of a House that stood quickly and with a united voice to condemn those appalling actions. The ceasefire was negotiated behind closed doors in Saudi Arabia. With the disappointing backdrop of the Oval Office confrontation, this is a tremendously welcomed intervention by the Trump administration and the American government. I sincerely hope it sticks.
Speaking of sticks, the USA itself and the international community, more generally, hold immense power to bring Russia to heel. I still believe that the full extent of those sanctions has not yet been tested. It should use those powers of sanction, if required.
I maintain regular contact with Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko. I regard him as a friend. He is certainly a friend of our state. He has been like a rock, supporting and speaking for his country to ours. He enjoys bipartisan support at the federal level of the Australian parliament, including through that confrontation in the Oval Office. I was very proud that all sides of politics maintained their strong position supporting our friends, the Ukrainians.
Today, I spoke with His Excellency on behalf of the people that I represent. I passed on our continued best wishes for him, his government and, most importantly, his people, as we strive, work and pray for peace. We especially pray for a peace that passes understanding, something that will transcend the usual power plays of politics, diplomacy and sabre rattling.
I conclude my brief remarks tonight in thinking mainly of the people of the Ukraine, and also the peace loving people of Russia – those of them who are peace loving – who are caught up in this illegal and immoral war. They all deserve true peace.
I welcome the Ukrainian government’s statement today that they will accept the terms in full of the 30-day ceasefire. They should not have to. They are not the ones who have been causing aggression to other parties. I think that shows tremendous grace and pragmatism that should not have been asked of them. Nonetheless, they are prepared to honour those terms of that ceasefire. I am sure I can say, like every other member here tonight, we hope that Russia will formally adopt those terms of that ceasefire as well and honour it fully while a more lasting diplomatic solution toward a lasting peace is found.
