Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky praises Australia for sending him ‘heavy weapons’

Ukraine’s president has praised Australia for sending him “heavy weapons” to fight Russian forces in his country.

Speaking to the Lowy Institute, Volodymyr Zelensky praised Australia’s help in fighting Putin’s “nuclear blackmail.”

“The more weapons and ammunition we receive – artillery, drones, anti-aircraft, anti-tank, anti-ship weapons – the more Russia feels the responsibility for violating international law and finally, the aggressor will feel that he… … has little room for any escalation element,” Zelensky said via video link.

Zelensky also called on Australia to lobby the international community ahead of a pivotal vote at the United Nations.

“Next week, the UN General Assembly will consider a resolution denying and condemning another attempt to annex territory by Russia,” he said.

“I ask Australia to use all its influence to convince as many countries as possible not to remain neutral and to vote for international law and against a Russian annexation.”

Secretary of State Penny Wong criticized Russia for the “sham” referendums it has held in the regions it is trying to claim.

She also announced that the government had filed an intervention with the International Court of Justice in support of Ukraine’s claims that Russia has violated the Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide.

Zelensky said Vladimir Putin would use “nuclear blackmail” to stop countries from rising up against Russia.

He said a criminal who did not receive an adequate punishment for his offenses would consider it ‘permission’ to reoffend.

The Ukrainian president said that if he does not stop, the Russian president would also “consume” other countries.

However, he also caused outrage after suggesting that NATO should launch preemptive strikes to rule out any Russian use of nuclear weapons.

‘What should NATO do? Make it impossible for Russia to use nuclear weapons,” he told the Australian think tank.

“Importantly, I once again appeal to the international community … preventive strikes so that (the Russians) know what will happen to them if they use them (nuclear weapons).”

Mr Zelensky did not go into detail about what kind of attacks he meant and did not refer to the need for nuclear attacks.

Russia was quick to denounce his comments.

“Such statements are nothing but a call to start another world war with unpredictable, monstrous consequences,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.