‘Coalition of the UNWILLING’: Peter Dutton puts his foot down on government plan to put Australian boots on the ground in Ukraine

By CAITLIN POWELL FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: 06:37 GMT, 14 March 2025 | Updated: 06:52 GMT, 14 March 2025

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused Peter Dutton of ‘walking away’ from a united front supporting Ukraine as speculation grows over whether a ceasefire in the years-long war is tenable.

The opposition leader said on Friday that he was opposed to Australia joining roughly 30 nations in a ‘coalition of the willing’, a potential international security force for Ukraine.

‘It just doesn’t make any sense,’ Mr Dutton told reporters.

‘Our job is to take care of our country and to make sure that we’re safe in our region, and to keep peace in our region, we’re going to have to invest in defence.’

The opposition leader said he supported Ukraine ‘from day one’ and opposed ‘Russia’s evil invasion of Ukraine and the slaughter of innocent men, women and children’.

‘We should continue to support Ukraine, but not with troops on the ground.’

Mr Dutton’s statement seems to have ended, at least in the Prime Minister’s eyes, cross-bench support of Ukraine.

‘[We] did have a bipartisan position, it appears that Mr Dutton has walked away from that. That’s a decision for him, but we stand for Ukraine,’ Mr Albanese told the ABC. 

Peter Dutton (pictured) told reporters on Friday that supporting boots on the ground in Ukraine ‘doesn’t make sense’

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) is due to join a call with 30 nations to discuss a ‘coalition of the willing’, which would create an international peacekeeping force for Ukraine

The Prime Minister spoke to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Saturday, where he said he would ‘consider contributing to a coalition of the willing for Ukraine’, according to a statement from Downing Street.

Mr Albanese confirmed that on Sunday, saying ‘both of our nations are very clear about our support for Ukraine. You can’t have peacekeeping forces without having peace’.

Russia has issued a blunt warning to Australia in response to the Prime Minister’s tough stance.

‘Once again, Western boots on the ground are unacceptable for Russia, and we will not remain passive observers,’ a statement from the Russian Embassy said.

‘Russia has no intention to harm Australians, and Canberra can easily avoid trouble by simply refraining from irresponsible adventurism in the zone of the Special Military Operation.’

The stern statement added said that the presence of military from NATO members and western countries within a likely peacekeeping zone in eastern Ukraine was ‘totally unacceptable’.

‘Canberra remains firmly on the side of war, along with those in Europe who are betting on continuing and escalating the conflict despite encouraging shifts towards peace negotiations.’

On Wednesday Ukraine had agreed to a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia.

The Kremlin refused a proposed ceasefire deal, with an aide of President Vladimir Putin calling the agreement ‘hasty’

But hopes for a pause in the years-long war were dissolved after the Kremlin slapped down the Donald Trump-led agreement.

Putin aide Yuri Ushakov expressed his opposition to the proposed US deal, saying that it was ‘hasty’ and would give breathing space to Ukrainian forces at a time when Moscow is close to fully retaking territory in its Kursk region from Kyiv’s forces. 

At least 30 countries are involved in discussions surrounding the idea of a united peacekeeping force that would be placed in Ukraine.

Mr Albanese remains open to considering a Australian troops on the ground and is due to take part in the call, arranged by Sir Keir Starmer, on Saturday night Australian time, the ABC reports. 

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‘Coalition of the UNWILLING’: Peter Dutton puts his foot down on government plan to put Australian boots on the ground in Ukraine

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