PM slams China for 'throwing a lifeline’ to Putin with grain trade

AUSTRALIA will send medical supplies and non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine as Scott Morrison ratchets up sanctions in a global effort to make Russia pay a heavy price for the invasion.

The Prime Minister also blasted the Chinese government’s move to defy the international community and throw Russia an economic “lifeline” just hours after President Vladimir Putin launched the wide-ranging attack.

Mr Morrison said that while sanctions on Russia were not expected to stop the invasion, a unified global response was necessary to ensure there was a cost to the violence ordered by Mr Putin, who he labelled a “thug”.

“I particularly have been concerned at the lack of a response from China,” Mr Morrison said on Friday. “At a time when the world was seeking to put additional sanctions on Russia, they have eased restrictions on trade of Russian wheat into China … That is simply unacceptable. China seeks to play a positive role in world affairs.

“They say they seek peace, and I welcome those sentiments … But that said, you don’t go and throw a lifeline to Russia in the middle of a period where they are invading another country.”

Defence Minister Peter Dutton agreed, saying it was “deeply disturbing” that China had “essentially encouraged Russia” instead of urging Mr Putin to pull back.

“I think they’re probably watching to see what the world reaction is so that they can make their own calculations down the track in relation to Taiwan,” he said. “It should be a wake-up call to not only Europe but to the rest of the world, including Australia, that we shouldn’t take the peace that we’ve had since the Cold War for granted.”

The Prime Minister said he was also concerned by suggestions made by the Chinese government that there was “some sort of security pretext for the invasion that is taking place”.

“There is none. Ukraine presents no threat,” Mr Morrison said, as he described the “terrible violence” as unwarranted and unprovoked.

He said international sporting events scheduled to be held in Russia, including the F1 Grand Prix in September, should not go ahead, and commended Australians who said they would not participate.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said: “Australia must stand united with our allies in holding Russia to account for its attack on Ukraine.”