Anthony Albanese says Russia should not be rewarded for breaking international law after Trump-Putin meetingOliver LaneThe NightlySun, 17 August 2025 3:23PMCommentsCommentsEmail Oliver Lane
Anthony Albanese has reiterated his desire to not let Russia be rewarded for its “illegal and immoral” invasion of Ukraine, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US Donald Trump.
Mr Trump hosted Mr Putin in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday local time, greeting the Russian leader with a red carpet, military flyover and a joint ride in a presidential limousine.
While no final result came from the meeting, Mr Trump described it as a “great and very successful day” in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
The meeting, which did not include Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has concerned leaders in the West, who worry a deal may be made without Ukraine’s input which cedes territory to Russia.
Speaking in Perth, Mr Albanese said he wanted to see a ceasefire.
“Well, I’ve seen the outcome, as have, I think people around the world who were watching,” he said.
“We want to see a ceasefire. We want to see the sovereignty of Ukraine protected. It is a good thing that President Trump is an advocate for peace.
While the lavish optics of a red carpet and a military flyover turned heads of the allies of Ukraine, Mr Albanese said it was up to the Trump administration and that Russia should not be allowed to set a precedent on gaining land through invasion.
“That’s a matter for President Trump and the US administration. It’s a good thing that people have dialogue,” he said.
“What we want to see is a ceasefire. What we want to see is an end to the illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign state, because it’s important as well for the international rule of law.
“It’s also important because of the precedent that Russia’s invasion sets of a powerful nation invading a much smaller nation and engaging in the brutality which we have seen at great cost to the Ukrainian people, but also at a great cost to Russian soldiers who’ve lost their lives as well.”
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