Australia Announces First Tranche Of Sanctions On Russia Over Ukraine Crisis

Australia on Wednesday joined the United States, the European Union, Canada, Germany and Britain to impose sanctions on Russia after Moscow ordered troops into separatist regions in Ukraine  and recognised them as independent entities.

Australia will immediately begin placing sanctions on Russian individuals it believes were responsible for the country’s actions against Ukraine, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said during a media briefing.

“Australians always stand up to bullies, and we will be standing up to Russia, along with all of our partners,” he said. “I expect subsequent tranches of sanctions, this is only the start of this process.”

Meanwhile, Syria supports the decision of its ally Russia to recognise two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine, Syrian state TV quoted the Syrian foreign minister as saying on Tuesday.

The United States and its European allies are set to announce fresh sanctions against Russia on Tuesday after Putin recognised the two breakaway regions, deepening Western fears of a new war in Europe.

“Syria supports President Vladimir Putin’s decision to recognise the republics of Luhansk and Donetsk,” the state TV quoted Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad as saying during an event in Moscow.

“What the West is doing against Russia is similar to what it did against Syria during the terrorist war,” said Mekdad.

Syria has been a staunch ally of Moscow since Russia launched a military campaign in Syria in 2015 that helped to turn the tide in a civil war in favour of President Basharal-Assad.

Later, the Syrian presidency said Damascus had already planned to recognise Donetsk as early as December 2021.

“Syria affirms that it is ready to work on building relations with the republics of Luhansk and Donetsk and to strengthen them with regard to mutual interests,” the statement added.

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