Australia pledges record $250 million military aid for Ukraine

The Australian government has today announced new record support for Ukraine, providing a $250 million military aid package for its war effort against Russia.

It is the federal government's largest single contribution since the conflict began in 2022, and includes advanced weapons, such as air defence missiles, guided ground weapons, anti-tank missiles, boots and ammunition.

The new aid package was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles who overnight met Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington.

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"The delivery of highly capable air defence capabilities and air-to-ground precision munitions represents Australia's largest single support package for Ukraine, and will make an enormous contribution to its efforts to end the conflict on its terms," Marles said.

"Russia's illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine stands as an affront to international law and the rules-based order."

Australia will also be part of NATO's new security and training initiative for Ukraine as an operational partner.

It will see Australian Defence Force personnel contributing to military activities by the western alliance.

Today's takes Australia's military aid for Ukraine to more than $1.1 billion since the start of Russia's invasion in February 2022, and overall support to more than $1.3 billion.

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Continuing military aid, particularly air defence weaponry, is crucial for Ukraine's war-fighting efforts as Russia steps up attacks.

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On Monday, Russia unleashed its heaviest bombardment of Kyiv in almost four months and one of the deadliest of the war, which levelled a wing of Ukraine's biggest children's hospital.

- With Associated Press