Aussie PM Lambasts Beijing for Lifting Trade Restrictions on Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C-L) meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Feb. 4, 2022. (Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images)

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has criticised Beijing for lifting trade restrictions on Russia as the rest of the world imposes sanctions in response to its military operations in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in Australia has said Russia seeks to “demilitarise and denazify” Ukraine.

“At a time when the world was seeking to put additional sanctions on Russia, they [Beijing] have eased restrictions on trade of Russia wheat into China,” Morrison told reporters on Feb. 25, citing a report in the South China Morning Post.

“And that is simply unacceptable. China seeks to play a positive role in world affairs. They say they seek peace. And I welcome those sentiments and I welcome their comments which talk about trying to get to a position where these violent acts can cease.

“But that said, you don’t go and throw a lifeline to Russia in the middle of a period when it’s invading other countries,” he said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks at the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia, on Feb. 1, 2022. (Rohan Thomson/Getty Images)

This comes as Australia announced extended sanctions on people and entities responsible for the “unprovoked and unacceptable aggression.”

This includes 300 members of the Russian Duma, who voted in favour of the military action in Ukraine, as well as extending sanctions to Belarus.

“There is no justification for this aggression, whose cost will be borne by innocent Ukrainians,” Morrison and Payne said in their joint statement.

“Vladimir Putin has fabricated a feeble pretext on which to invade. Russia’s disinformation and propaganda has convinced no one.

“We call on Russia to cease its illegal and unprovoked actions, and to stop violating Ukraine’s independence. Russia must reverse its breach of international law and of the UN Charter, and withdraw its military from Ukraine,” they said.

Russia Seeks to ‘Denazify’ Ukraine, Embassy Says

Meanwhile, Russia’s embassy in Australia has maintained that its military operations came in response to requests for help by the leaders of the two breakaway Ukraine regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, which Russia has recognised as independent people’s republics.

In a release on Feb. 15, the Russian embassy in Australia said the military operation was in accordance with Article 51 (Chapter VII) of the United Nations Charter.

“The purpose of this operation is to protect people who, for eight years now, have been facing humiliation and genocide perpetrated by the Kyiv regime. To this end, Russia will seek to demilitarise and denazify Ukraine. There is no objective to occupy Ukraine,” the release stated.

Right Sector militias gather outside the city hall prior to deploying on defensive positions on Feb. 24, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

“Russian Armed Forces are not targeting Ukrainian cities with missiles or artillery strikes. Military infrastructure, air defense facilities, military airfields, and aviation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are being disabled with high-precision weapons.

“The decision to conduct the operation is not to hurt the interests of Ukraine or the Ukrainian people, but rather to defend our country from those who have taken Ukraine hostage and have been trying to use it against Russia and our people,” the release said.

The Epoch Times is unable to verify if Russian-marked forces have targeted civilian areas at the time of publication.

Reuters has reported that Ukrainian officials in the country have confirmed 137 military personnel and civilians have been killed in the ongoing fighting.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron told reporters in Brussels that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had told him Russia had killed hundreds of Ukrainian civilians so far.