The Ukrainian Greens have sharply criticized Australian Greens leader Senator David Shoebridge for his stance against military aid to Ukraine, describing his position as “detached from reality.” Senator Shoebridge, who recently assumed leadership of the Australian Greens, stated earlier this month that he would not support assisting Ukraine militarily unless such aid was approved by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
This position has drawn particular scrutiny given that Russia, as a permanent member of the UNSC, retains veto power, effectively preventing resolutions that would authorise support for Ukraine. Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, more than 15,000 civilians have been reported killed. The Ukrainian Greens argued that Senator Shoebridge’s call for UNSC authorisation “plays into the hands of the aggressor, Vladimir Putin,” adding that “dogmatic pacifism kills.”
According to the Ukrainian Greens, a commitment to peace does not justify passivity in the face of invasion, warning that pacifism under such circumstances only results in occupation and the destruction of a nation. They criticised Shoebridge’s position as equivalent to “asking a criminal for permission to call the police.”
The Australian Greens leader’s comments have attracted criticism across the political spectrum. Labor Senator Deborah O’Neill, chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Ukraine, accused Shoebridge of attempting to “unilaterally change his party’s policy” to effectively abandon support for Ukraine. She questioned whether this shift was related to Shoebridge’s reported attendance at a dinner with the Russian ambassador in Sydney in October 2022, shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a nuclear threat against Ukraine. Senator O’Neill also noted that the Greens’ 2025 election platform had not opposed military assistance to Kyiv.
Australia has taken a strong stance against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, imposing thousands of coordinated sanctions against Russia and its shadow tanker fleet. In addition, Australia has provided Ukraine with nearly $1.9 billion in direct aid and has participated in training Ukrainian troops, positioning itself as one of Ukraine’s largest supporters outside of NATO. This robust backing has resulted in Australia being named among Moscow’s list of “unfriendly” nations.
The debate highlights ongoing tensions within Australia’s political landscape regarding the extent and conditions of support for Ukraine amid the continued conflict with Russia.