Dutton and Albanese at odds over sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as US pauses military aid

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday opened the door to sending Australian peacekeepers to Ukraine, signalling a growing alignment with Europe as the United States ordered a pause in vital military aid.

“There is a discussion at the moment about potential peacekeeping, and from my government’s perspective, we’re open to consideration of any proposals going forward,” Mr Albanese told reporters in Sydney.

“Australia has historically played an important role in areas, including in Africa, in Cyprus, in a range of peacekeeping areas. We want to see peace in Ukraine,” he said.

The revelation marked a major shift since Monday when both the Government and the Opposition played down suggestions the Australian Defence Force would participate in the UK’s proposed “coalition of the willing” to enforce any ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia.

Mr Albanese made his comments shortly before reports emerged from the White House that US President Donald Trump had halted military aid to Kyiv following a stunning televised bust-up with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensksy.

“President Trump has been clear that he is focused on peace. We need our partners to be committed to that goal as well. We are pausing and reviewing our aid to ensure that it is contributing to a solution,” said a White House official.

In an interview with Fox News on Monday, Mr Vance accused Mr Zelensky of showing a “clear unwillingness to engage in the peace process” but said he would “eventually” agree.

The Ukrainian leader has repeatedly stressed his war-torn country is desperate for peace but only on just terms and with the right security guarantees to protect it from future Russian aggression.

It is not yet clear to what extent the blocking of US military assistance will immediately endanger Ukraine’s battle against Russian forces as aid is in various stages of delivery.

Friday’s showdown, where Mr Trump and his deputy, JD Vance, berated Mr Zelensky for a lack of gratitude, has left world leaders scrambling to heal the growing rift between the two one-time allies.

Australia, which has contributed $1.5bn to Ukraine, including $1.3bn in military assistance, is also recalibrating its response in light of dramatic shifts in US policy.

“We stand with the people of Ukraine and we stand with President Zelensky and the brave struggle of the people of Ukraine to defend their national sovereignty,” said Mr Albanese on Tuesday. “But also what they’re fighting for is the international rule of law.”

He clarified there hadn’t yet been any formal requests or proposals on the deployment of Australian peacekeepers.

But the turnaround now puts Mr Albanese at odds with Coalition Leader Peter Dutton who on Tuesday reiterated his opposition to dispatching Australian troops.

“We have been involved in training and providing support to Ukraine soldiers, and I think that should continue. In terms of whether we should have boots on the ground in Ukraine. I don’t support that. I think the Europeans have that task,” he said.

“I think what President Trump’s pointed out is that the Europeans need to do more in the defence of Europe, and that’s a statement of the obvious,” he added.

The latest twist in the three-year conflict has now put Australia more in lockstep with European allies than its major trade partner in Washington.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has spearheaded Europe’s response to the US’ sudden step back from unequivocal support for Kyiv, has indicated the UK would be looking for “as broad a coalition as we can put together,” pooling different capabilities.

Australia’s contributions, including Bushmaster armoured vehicles, were singled out as an example of filling Ukraine’s defence gaps.

On Tuesday, Defence Minister Richard Marles said 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks promised five months ago to Ukraine would be delivered in a “timely fashion” but declined to give further details on the final timeline.

“We stand with Ukraine so that this conflict can be resolved on Ukraine’s terms,” he said.