Scott Morrison has called an emergency meeting of Australia’s peak decision-making body for national security, with sanctions against Russia likely to be outlined.
The Prime Minister will convene a meeting of cabinet’s national security committee on Wednesday morning to discuss next steps as the crisis in Ukraine ramps up.
He will make an announcement later on Wednesday.
The meeting comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops into two rebel regions in eastern Ukraine on a “peacekeeping mission”.
Overnight, United States President Joe Biden has described the move as an “invasion” and on Wednesday morning Australian time vowed to impose tough sanctions.
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said Australia would use “whatever tools we have available” to impose tough sanctions and would consider expelling Russia’s top diplomat in Canberra.
“It’s important to remind Australians that we have existing sanctions in place (against Russia) and they have been imposed since 2014,” Senator Payne told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
“We have been working with counterpartsxjmtzyw of my department of foreign affairs and trade, with partners around the globe, particularly in the US and the UK, and I’ve been discussing this with European Union colleagues (in Europe).”
While Senator Payne would not be drawn on what types of sanctions Australia could impose on Russia, she said there would be an impact and “clear penalties for Russia should they proceed with this”.
One such penalty being considered is expelling the Russian ambassador.
“Dealing with diplomats in that way, whether it is expulsions or recalls, is always an option,” Senator Payne said.
“Focus at the moment though is on targeted sanctions that will have an impact on those responsible. So while there are other options and other tools in the toolkit, such as how we deal with diplomats, that’s a matter I’ll turn my mind to at an appropriate time.”
She had prefaced this by saying Russia “still had a choice” not to proceed with their invasion.
“I don’t agree that there is no stopping a comprehensive invasion because Russia still always has the option not to proceed,” she said.
“That’s what we … and like-mindeds have been calling for.”
Earlier this week, former prime minister Tony Abbott said a “new iron curtain will soon ring down on Europe if we don’t do more to defend Ukraine”.
Senator Payne said it wasn’t helpful to speculate “in that way”, noting the sovereignty of countries in the region “is obviously an absolute”.
“We have to be absolutely clear that there is a cost to Russia for such behaviour, and that is severe sanctions that will target Russian individuals and entities that are responsible for these actions,” she said.
“We have to ensure that we are standing with our counterparts across Europe, whether it is the countries that I have been meeting with in recent days – many of whom understand the vulnerability that Ukraine is facing.
“And themselves, see troop build-ups along long borders with Russia, see what’s happening in Belarus and are deeply concerned.
“We share those concerns. We are united with many partners … in supporting their sovereignty and their territorial integrity.”
