Senator Shoebridge tells us that Ukraine has his full support – but is ruling out arms transfers to Ukraine really supporting them? The Ukrainian Greens don’t think so:
‘… we emphasise that refusing to provide defensive weapons to a country waging a just war of liberation is a dangerous illusion that plays into the hands of the aggressor, Vladimir Putin.
Dogmatic pacifism kills. As part of the global environmental movement, we share a commitment to peace. However, pacifism in the face of a ruthless invader does not stop war – it leads to occupation and the destruction of an entire nation. Ukraine is exercising its legitimate right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.’
Here’s what Senator Shoebridge’s colleague Sarah Hanson-Young had to say about arms to Ukraine: ‘If that’s the support that people need in order to defend themselves from the invasion of Russia, I think Australians need to support that. We always come from a position of wanting to de-escalate military violence… we want to see humanitarian support, we want to see diplomatic support, but of course you can’t allow people to be left fending for themselves.’
‘I’ve had a discussion with David about this, I think he would have put it differently if he was asked that question again.’
Instead of telling porkies about Russian oil and continuing to double down on his ‘dangerous illusion’, Shoebridge should listen to his colleagues and the Ukrainian community, recognise that his stance alienates mainstream voters, and join the majority of Australians in supporting our contribution to defending Ukraine.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
