Anthony Albanese has joined world leaders including Emmanuel Macron and Keir Starmer in talks about ending Russia’s war in Ukraine, discussing plans for an international peacekeeping force if and when a ceasefire is negotiated.
The Coalition of the Willing talks followed on the heels of Albanese’s latest phone conversation with Donald Trump overnight on Thursday, before a possible face-to-face meeting in Washington DC this month.
Along with President Volodymr Zelenskyy, world leaders at the Ukraine meeting discussed continued support for the country’s fight against Moscow’s invasion, and plans for peace, once a deal can be locked in with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
The French president and the UK prime minister are leading the group, which also includes the leaders of New Zealand and Canada. Together, leaders on the call restated their commitment to stand with Ukraine “for as long as it takes”.
“Australia stands with Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion,” Albanese’s office said.
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“With our partners we will keep working towards just and lasting peace for Ukraine on its own terms.”
Zelenskyy welcomed the discussions as a “serious concrete step” towards peace.
International troops would not be deployed “on the frontline” but aim to “prevent any new major aggression”, Macron said.
Albanese has left open the possibility of Australian troops joining European forces in Ukraine. In March the prime minister said Australia “stands ready to assist” Ukraine and the government has pledged to consider any request to contribute forces.
The prime minister is expected to visit Starmer in London after trip visit to the US.
Albanese welcomed his “warm and constructive” phone call with Trump, which included discussion of trade, shared security interests and economic ties.
The two leaders discussed critical minerals – a key bargaining chip Australia hopes to use in negotiations with the US in the face of Trump’s aggressive tariff regime.
It was the pair’s fourth call and comes two weeks before Albanese is due to head to New York for the UN general assembly meeting.
The federal government hopes the trip will also include the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Albanese, after their planned June meeting at the G7 summit in Canada was cancelled at the last minute.
Albanese’s team is working hard to lock in a meeting, potentially at the White House, after last week’s visit by the defence minister, Richard Marles, to Washington.
“The leaders discussed economic cooperation between Australia and the United States,” a spokesperson for Albanese said.
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“They spoke about opportunities to work together on trade and critical minerals in the interests of both nations.
“Leaders also discussed the strength of our relationship and the importance of our shared security interests.”
Albanese posted about his call with Trump on social media, calling it “warm and constructive”.
“We discussed our trade and economic relationship as well as areas for growth including critical minerals. We also discussed shared US-Australia security interests.”
Shared security interests could include discussion of the Aukus nuclear submarines agreement. A Pentagon review of the deal with Australia and the UK is expected to be completed around November and comes as the White House pressures Australia to spend as much as 3% of GDP on defence.
Last week Albanese suggested the government would meet Trump’s demands to increase defence spending, indicating the strength of the US-Australian alliance was an important consideration.
“We’ll continue to provide whatever investment is required to make sure that we lift our capability and we lift our relationships as well,” he told Nine.
The US is looking to diversify its access to critical mineral supply from around the world, easing its reliance on imports from China.