2LT International News

CANBERRA, Australia: Australia said it will send 70 soldiers to the UK to help train Ukrainian troops, as well as deliver 30 armored vehicles to Ukraine.

The latest Australian defense package increases Canberra’s support for Ukraine to some $425 million since the conflict began.

“We expect this now to be a protracted conflict. We are mindful that Ukraine needs to now be supported over the longer term if we are going to put Ukraine in a position where it can resolve this conflict on its own terms,” said Defense Minister Richard Marles, in an interview with Australian ABC television.

Australia has been one of the largest non-NATO supporters of Ukraine, has supplied the delivery of aid and defense equipment, and sanctioned hundreds of Russian individuals and entities.

Marles said that after arriving in the UK in January, Australian troops will join an international training exercise, but they will not enter the war zone in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba thanked Australia for the latest support.

“The Bushmaster armored vehicles have shown excellent results on the battlefield, and we requested more of them. We will always remember Australia’s support!,” he wrote on Twitter.