Zelensky asked Australia for the supply of armored cars in a speech to the country's parliament

KYIV: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky asked Australia on Thursday to supply Australian Bushmaster armored personnel carriers to Kiev in an address to the parliament of this country.

"Ukraine must have everything it needs on the battlefield. For example, you have excellent Bushmaster armored vehicles that can significantly help Ukraine," Zelensky said, speaking in a video conference in front of the Australian Parliament.

"I invite your beautiful state to our coastal regions, to our coasts of the Black and Azov Seas, to upgrade our ports," Zelensky said. "The revival of the Ukrainian maritime industry can be a personal contribution to stability for you," he added.

He also called on Australia to impose new sanctions against Russia.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Thursday ahead of Zelensky's speech that the country is imposing additional duties of 35% on all goods imported from Russia and Belarus to increase economic pressure.

Earlier in March, Zelensky repeatedly spoke via video link to foreign parliamentarians, including the US Congress, the British House of Commons, the German Bundestag, the Israeli Knesset, the Polish Sejm, the parliaments of Italy, Japan, France, Sweden, and Denmark. In his speeches, he thanked for the military and humanitarian support provided by the West and called for greater pressure on Russia.