The situation in Ukraine has startled many. Russia has been stationing thousands of soldiers around their border with Ukraine, while the USA has responded with sending hundreds of thousands of pounds of military weaponry to the Ukrainians. In the eyes of some geopolitical observers, conflict is likely in the region.

Instead of rashly declaring loyalty to either team, Foreign Affairs minister TheSensibleCentre correctly observed that the escalation is a "NATO-Russia contest for influence in the region", and one which Australia would remain neutral in. This is, in my view, the correct approach. It is not Australia's role to intervene in an Eastern European conflict, let alone to pick a side in which both have acted fairly equally in escalation and aggression.

While a Russian invasion should, as the minister and Socialist Party leader noted, be rightfully condemned, it is also not the role of Australians to die for Ukraine, and to instead work to deescalate the rising tensions and be a global advocate for peace and non-aggression. This is the stance the government has taken, and I believe it is not only sensible, but the best stance to take in this circumstance.

Yesterday, however, the Commonwealth Party sought to pour fuel on the fire. Rohanite272 and 12MaxWild, both high-ranking members of the CPA, proposed a motion that would see Australia actively join Washington's escalations by providing Ukraine with weaponry, all while hypocritcally condemning Russia's military buildup on the Ukrainian border. Aside from that, it would also recognise that Ukraine is an independent nation - useless virtue-signalling, given that Australia already does recognise Ukraine's independence and there has been no serious suggestion to change that policy - and publicly declare support for Ukraine and their government.

Let me be clear - this is dangerous thinking. Australia serving as America's lapdog by seeking to defend their military alliance is not the path we should take. We do not, nor should we, have any stake in the future of Eastern Europe. It is not our responsibility to serve as the global police, nor should it be up to the brave men and women in our armed forces to die for defending a nation on the other side of the world. While the government has recognised this, the opposition wants to plant our flag firmly on one side of the fence, consequences be damned.

By acting to provide Ukraine with military aid, we would not be helping to work towards peace or to deescalate the situation, as this government wishes to do. If we provide Ukraine with guns and weapons, then it becomes more and more likely they will use them. And make no mistake - those in Ukraine's east seeking to defend the country are not all brave people fighting for just causes against big, bad Russia.

Groups like the Azov Battalion are extreme, far-right paramilitary organisations who are staunchly against not just Russian attacks, but ethnic Russians - not to mention feminists, LGBT people, and Roma. They glorify people like Nazi collaborator Stepan Bandera.

Could we be sure that these people will not recieve Australian weapons? After all, Ukraine's own President has said that the same Bandera was "one of those who defended the freedom of Ukraine", and said that the fact that he was glorified as a hero by many was "a normal and cool thing".

But even if we could ensure that Australian weapons will not be used by neo-Nazis, it would still be the wrong choice to intervene in Ukraine. The Ukrainian escalation does not effect Australia, and is frankly not a concern to most everyday citizens. We should not be intervening, because it is not our place to. Doing so would only serve to heighten tensions and tarnish Australia's global reputation. It is the wrong choice and the Commonwealth Party should be ashamed of themselves for seeking to incite these tensions.