Western sanctions against Russia need to remain in place for the long term and despite any ceasefires to ensure it suffers consequences for the invasion of Ukraine, the prime minister says.
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Scott Morrison told international policy think tank the Lowy Institute that Russia needs to pay the price economically and diplomatically for its aggression.
"All western countries, all those participating in these sanctions, need to hold fast and endure over the long term," Mr Morrison said.
"Some break in the fighting that may occur should not enable the pressure or the vice to be eased when it comes to Russia."
Mr Morrison used his speech on Monday to warn of a new "arc of autocracy" threatening to disrupt the world order.
"There is a wider lesson here for western liberal democracies as we come face to face with brutal, autocratic aggression and coercion. We must stand together," he said.
The prime minister warned Australia faces its most dangerous security environment since World War II and western liberal democracies must stand together against autocratic aggression.
"A new arc of autocracy is instinctively aligning to challenge and reset the world order in their own image," he said.
"We face the spectre of a transactional world, devoid of principle, accountability and transparency, where state sovereignty, territorial integrity and liberty are surrendered for respite from coercion and intimidation, or economic entrapment dressed up as economic reward."
Mr Morrison said the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin amounted to the "bloody and violent acts of an autocrat determined to impose his will on others".
The number of refugees fleeing Ukraine passed 1.5 million as Russia's attack continued for an 11th day.
The United States has seen very credible reports of deliberate attacks on civilians in Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Mr Morrison said he found the Russian president's act to be "quite chilling".
"We can't step back from this. I know it comes at a cost. I know it means that we have been targeted" he said.
"But we must look clear-eyed about the threats in our own region and what's occurring in Europe."
The speech comes after Australian missiles arrived in Ukraine as part of the federal government's promised $70 million in military assistance, in addition to non-lethal military equipment and medical supplies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Mr Morrison in a phone call over the weekend he deeply appreciated the support from Australia.
Praising his counterpart's resolve and determination, Mr Morrison said every day Ukraine resists the Russian invasion inflicted a greater cost on the Kremlin.
"There is no doubt that Mr Putin is not getting what he was seeking. He's overestimated the capacity of how he might be able to prosecute this illegal war," Mr Morrison said.
"This is just the latest example of an authoritarian regime seeking to challenge the status quo through threats and violence. There is a clear gap emerging between (Mr Putin's) ambition and what would be the reasonable nationalistic sentiment of Russians more broadly."
Australia has approved 1700 visas for people exiting the Ukraine and is weighing up a temporary safe haven program similar to that run for Kosovar refugees in 1999.
with Reuters
Australian Associated Press
