Anthony Albanese hugs Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Nato Summit

Australia will donate an additional 30 Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles to Ukraine, Anthony Albanese has announced.

The prime minister met with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Lithuania on Wednesday night, where the two embraced.

Mr Aussie leader pledged further military aid to support the country in its fight against Russia.

The package builds on Australia’s previous commitment of 90 Bushmasters, taking the total number to 120.

Australia has provided more than $710 million in military aid, with overall support reaching a total of $890 million.

Mr Albanese said Australia remained steadfast in its commitment to support Ukraine.

The pair later embraced, with Mr Albanese saying Australia was proud to assist ‘the brave men and women fighting for their home and their nation’s sovereignty’

‘We are proud to provide additional Bushmaster vehicles to assist the brave men and women fighting for their home and their nation’s sovereignty,’ he said.

‘Russia unilaterally launched this illegal and immoral invasion and should withdraw its troops and end the conflict immediately.’

Mr Zelenskiy expressed his gratitude after meeting Mr Albanese.

‘Thank you! A powerful new defence package, including 30 Bushmasters,’ he wrote on the Telegram app.

Australia this week announced a further step in its support for Ukraine – the deployment of an RAAF E-7A Wedgetail aircraft to protect the flow of assistance.

Earlier, Mr Albanese told NATO leaders Australia’s partnership with the security alliance is crucial for global peace and prosperity.

The prime minister is in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius as part of a group of four Indo-Pacific nations sharing their concerns with European and other NATO partners about the global impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

NATO members invited Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea to provide insight into broader security challenges such as China’s military expansion.

Mr Albanese spoke at the summit, where it is understood he told leaders keeping the peace was not simply the responsibility of major powers but that all countries needed to contribute to the world’s collective resilience.

He outlined Australia’s work in reforming the defence force, working with Washington and London on the AUKUS partnership, and boosting diplomatic work in the Indo-Pacific region and with NATO partners.

Australia will have donated a total of 120 armoured Bushmaster 4WD vehicles

After his meeting with Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general told reporters China ‘is not our adversary’.

Chinese authorities said in a statement the nation opposed NATO’s ‘eastward movement into the Asia-Pacific region’.

‘Any act that jeopardises China’s legitimate rights and interests will be met with a resolute response,’ they said.

Ukraine is seeking to join NATO, but admission to the alliance is unlikely to take place soon.

NATO leaders have agreed on a long-term support package, deeper political ties and to further work with Ukraine on its accession which is not expected to occur until the war is over.

Mr Albanese spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron on the summit’s sidelines on Tuesday, as well as his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak, discussing progress on the AUKUS pact, the free trade agreement and cricket.

The prime minister also met with a bipartisan delegation of US senators who will play a role in passing laws to enable the transfer of Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines to Australia under the AUKUS partnership.

Trade and climate were on the agenda for a meeting with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday.

The first Bushmaster PMV, an ambulance variant, is loaded into a C-17 Globemaster aircraft headed for Ukraine on April 8

What is the Bushmaster?

The Bushmaster Protected Military Vehicle (PMV) – or Infantry Mobility Vehicle – is an Australian built, four-wheel drive armoured vehicle that has seen action in several wars.

The Bushmaster (pictured) is an 11-tonne armoured military vehicle designed to carry and deploy up to ten soldiers onto the battlefield

The vehicle’s design means it can serve a variety of other roles, including as an ambulance (pictured, Bushmaster armoured vehicle’s prepare for deployment to assist flooded communities in March 2022)

Nicknamed ‘The Bushy,’ the PMV is designed to transport troops safely through war zones and to deploy them on the front-lines.

• First produced: 1997
• Number built: 1,195
• Cost: A$2,450,000(AUD)
• Crew: 1 driver, 9 passengers 
• Weight: 11 – 15 tonnes
• Designed by: Australian Defence Industries (ADI)
• Currently produced by: Thales Australia (formerly ADI)
• Used in: War in Afghanistan, Iraq War, East Timor, Golan Heights, Iraqi Civil War, Syrian Civil War, Northern Mali Conflict
• Used by: Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Fiji, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, The Netherlands. (Several others, including the United States , France and Spain, have expressed an interest)
• Variants: Several versions of ‘The Bushy’ have been produced. These include: Troop, Command, Air Defence, Ambulance, Assault Pioneer, Mortar variant, Direct Fire Weapons, General Maintenance.