Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Australia's parliament in a rare joint sitting on Thursday evening, saying Australia's support for Ukraine is valued and necessary amid the destruction of Russian President Vladimir Putin's "full-fledged war" against Ukraine.
Speaking in a live video broadcast within both houses of Parliament, Mr Zelenskyy said the , but even more pressure through stronger sanctions need to be brought to bear against Russia.
"This country started a full-fledged war against us. They're shelling cities and villages, they are killing our civilians and children," he said through an interpreter.
Australian MPs were joined by members of the Ukrainian community in the federal Parliament for the address.
“We welcome you here as a lion of democracy,” Mr Morrison said speaking before Mr Zelenskyy delivered his address. "We stand with you, Mr President, and we do not stand with the of Moscow," he said referring to Mr Putin.
"As you stand up to this latest tyrant, you are showing us what true courage is," Opposition leader Anthony Albanese said.
Mr Zelenskyy thanked Australia for its support, including an additional $25 million in defensive military equipment announced by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in brief remarks ahead of Mr Zelenskyy's address.
But he said further weapons support could be provided and he requested access to Australian Bushmaster armoured vehicles.
"We have to keep those fighting against this evil armed. For example, you have very good Bushmaster vehicles. They could help Ukraine substantially. And other pieces of equipment that could strengthen our position, in terms of armaments; if you would have an opportunity to share this with us, we'd be very grateful in Ukraine."
Mr Zelenskyy said Mr Putin's actions, including the threat of nuclear war, represented a threat to all democratic nations.
"We know that our dream is undefeatable and indestructible, especially if we can count on the support of the free world, on your support [Australia], on your assistance. We need it urgently."
Over the past month, Mr Zelenskyy has of the US, UK and the EU, appealing for more missile and weapons support.
In his address to the Australian Parliament, Mr Zelenskyy thanked Australia for its support, but said stronger sanctions are needed to stop Mr Putin from inflicting further damage.
Over the past month, Mr Zelenskyy has addressed the parliaments of the US, UK, and EU, appealing for more missile and weapons support. Source: AAP / MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE
He made mention of the downing of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine, which resulted in 298 deaths, including those of 38 Australians.
"We don't know how many new tragedies that Russia has or will create. The unpunished evil will come back - with inspiration, with the feeling of almightiness.
"If Russia was punished in 2014 for what it did, there would be no terror of this invasion in 2022. We have to correct such horrible mistakes, and correct them now.
"Together, we can and should do more. We need new sanctions against Russia - powerful sanctions - to stop missiles from Russia."
In recent days, Ukrainian forces have regained territory such as the Kyiv suburb of Irpin as the Russian offensive appears to have stalled, five weeks after it was launched on 24 February.
The announcement by Mr Morrison brings Australia's total military support contribution to $116 million since 1 March.
The support does not extend to troop deployment, with the new support to include tactical decoys, unmanned aerial and unmanned ground systems, rations and medical supplies.
Mr Morrison said the measure is a response to a direct request from the Ukrainian government, adding there is scope to provide further military assistance as the need arises.
"We must continue to impose the maximum costs against Russia through targeted sanctions on individuals and entities, including President Putin and his circle of oligarchs and propagandists, military commanders and members of Parliament," he said.
Australia steps up pressure against Russia
The federal government has already applied a long list of sanctions against Russia, targeting 500 Russian individuals and entities, such as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and including Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich and industrialist Oleg Deripaska.
A ban has been imposed on oil, coal and gas imports from Russia, with Mr Morrison announcing earlier on Thursday a 35 per cent tariff on all imports from Russia and Belarus to "increase the economic costs to Russia following its illegal invasion of Ukraine".
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Marise Payne addressed the Senate, saying the federal government will continue to work with allies to apply diplomatic and economic pressure against Russia to urge it to withdraw troops from Ukraine.
Government members and senators applaud Ukrainian’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before he addressed the House of Representatives via a video link at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, 31 March, 2022. Source: AAP / MICK TSIKAS/AAPIMAGE
Australia's military assistance for Ukraine troops so far has included missiles and weapons.
A further $65 million in humanitarian aid funding has been allocated to provide vital supplies to displaced people, including children.
On Tuesday, Australia extended its sanctions to include 39 Russian individuals who are accused of corruption or involvement in the death and torture of Ukrainian-born whistleblower and lawyer Sergei Magnitsky who worked in Moscow.
It is the first time the federal government used the so-called Magnitsky sanctions since passing legislation last year to allow individuals to be sanctioned for egregious human rights abuses.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs said almost 5,600 Ukrainians have been granted mostly tourist visas and more than 1,400 people from that group have already arrived in Australia.
Mr Morrison has said the group will be offered a , which will enable them to work and access government services like Medicare, options not available to them on the tourist visa.
UN confirms growing civilian death toll
UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday that her office has been documenting widespread and indiscriminate attacks in Ukraine targeting medical facilities and the use of weapons such as cluster munitions.
The ground-launched explosive weapon can contain as many as 600 submunitions that detonate.
"The massive destruction of civilian objects and the high number of civilian casualties strongly indicate that the fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution have not been sufficiently adhered to."
She said her office has verified 1,189 civilian deaths in Ukraine, including 98 children, since the conflict started on 24 February.
The UN has appointed a former judge at the European Court of Human Rights, Norwegian Erik Mose, to head a three-member panel to investigate possible abuses and violations in Ukraine after Mr Putin's invasion.
More than four million people - 4,019,287 or nearly 10 per cent of the country's population - have fled Ukraine over five weeks, according to UN refugee agency UNHCR. A further 6.48 million people are estimated to be internally displaced within Ukraine.
Alex Mundt, the UNHCR senior emergency coordinator in Poland, said the scale and size of displacement is the "fastest exodus of refugees moving in recent history" - the largest seen since World War Three.
