Russia hit with more sanctions three years on from war

Australia has slapped further travel bans and sanctions on Russian individuals and entities three years on from the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

In a joint statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Defence Minister Richard Marles, and Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on Monday the government was imposing an extra 149 sanctions.

This brings the total number of sanctions to more than 1400 in response to Russia starting the war on February 24, 2022.

"Once again, Australia calls on Russia to immediately end its war and adhere fully to its obligations under international law, including in relation to the protection of civilians and treatment of prisoners of war," the statement reads.

Australia has committed more than $1.5 billion in aid to Ukraine.

Ukraine's top diplomat in Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko thanked Australia for its "uplifting" support.

"We need Europe, and we need America standing there, together with us and negotiating with Russia from a standpoint of strength," he said.

"My most important message is to express my gratitude to the Australian people, to the Australian government."

The ambassador was with his family in Kyiv when Russian paratroopers started landing just 20 minutes from his home, a moment he said he would never forget.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said more than 46,000 Ukrainian troops had been killed defending their homeland, while the wounded numbered about 380,000.

About 20,000 children had been forcibly deported to Russia, plus tens of thousands of Ukrainians were missing in action or in captivity.

Mr Myroshnychenko pointed to the rules-based international system being under threat.

"Rewarding Russia for aggression sends a very dangerous signal to other authoritarian leaders, especially here in the region, in the Pacific, and for Australia, for New Zealand, for all the Pacific Islands," he said.

"If it doesn't matter anymore, it becomes a very dangerous world."

He praised the "stellar" leadership of Mr Zelenskiy who said he would step down down from the presidency if it meant securing peace for his country.

The Ukrainian ambassador said Vladimir Putin needed to be held accountable for war crimes, including the downing of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014 which claimed the lives of 38 Australians.

Mr Myroshnychenko said aid given to Ukraine from the European countries, including those not in the EU, exceeded the total amount of assistance provided by the US.

Rallies in support of Ukraine were held in the nation's capital cities at the weekend as well as a commemorative vigil in Melbourne.

A memorial service at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canberra will take place on Monday and be attended by Australian officials, diplomats and the Ukrainian community.

Peter Dutton, opposition foreign spokesman David Coleman, and opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie said the coalition stood with Ukraine and for an end that fully respected its sovereignty.

"A peace that does not reward the murderous despot Putin, as any reward would embolden other autocrats to follow in his tyrannical footsteps," they said.

Co-chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations Kateryna Argyrou said Ukraine deserved a seat at the negotiating table to decide its own future, criticising incorrect claims made by Donald Trump that Kyiv had started the war.

"Considering there is a lack of moral leadership in other parts of the world, it's an opportunity for Australia to show courage ... and to continue to stand with Ukraine," she said.