Albanese sidesteps questions on Trump as he backs Zelenskyy after White House confrontation

PM pledges support for Ukraine but declines to directly comment on US president's approach as community rallies in Sydney

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Anthony Albanese has reiterated Australia's support for Ukraine after a fiery meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But even as Sydney's Ukrainian community rallied in protest, the prime minister declined to comment directly on how the confrontation might affect Australia's relationship with the US.

US military support for Ukraine hangs in the balance and talks over a minerals deal deteriorated after a disastrous interchange at the White House that also included the US vice-president, JD Vance. The US president claimed his Ukraine counterpart was not ready for peace" and accused him of gambling with world war three", before Zelenskyy left the White House early.

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