Ukraine needs more military aid: envoy

VOLODYMYR SHALKIVSKYI PRESS CLUB
If Ukraine falls, other countries will be next, charge d'affaires Volodymyr Shalkivskyi warns. -AAP Image

If Ukraine falls, further countries will face the wrath of Russian expansionism, Ukraine's top diplomat in Canberra warned as he reiterated his president's call for more aid. 

Charge d'affaires Volodymyr Shalkivskyi says Ukraine needs more aircraft, modern anti-aircraft systems and a no-fly zone over Ukraine to stave off the Russian advance as troops close in on the country's capital, Kyiv. 

"(Russia's) ally Belarus needs access to the Baltic Sea and (needs) to go through the European Union and NATO member, so there is already clear evidence that in case Ukraine falls, then there will be next countries in line," he told the Seven Network. 

"Our president calling for the active participation of the world community and helping Ukraine to protect our land."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the United States Congress via video link and pleaded with American lawmakers for more aid as he referenced Pearl Harbor and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. 

President Joe Biden announced the US would send an additional $US800 million ($A1.1 billion) in military aid, including anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons, as well as drones, but Mr Zelensky reiterated his calls for a NATO-imposed no-fly zone.

His representative in Canberra, Mr Shalkivskyi, said Ukraine needed the defensive systems and lethal support "in order for us to effectively sustain that military pressure that's coming from Russia".

"Russia has air superiority and the devastation that it caused on the ground in terms of civilian death and destruction of residential areas and civilian infrastructure is just striking," he said. 

Mr Shalkivskyi said Russia had shown characteristics of genocide through the targeting of civilians and attacking humanitarian corridors where civilians are trying to flee conflict zones. 

"Every time our civilians tried to flee, Russian forces started shelling, killing civilians," he said.

"These mass killings and slaughters continue and we are calling for international partners to step in."

Australia has flagged the potential to send more military aid, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying it is prepared to send more armaments with international partners. 

A further round of sanctions is also on the cards. 

The federal government reportedly has its eye on two billionaires - Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg - with links to Russian's Rusal, which is one of the world's biggest aluminium manufacturers.

Rusal has a large financial stake in a Queensland aluminium refinery that sends millions of tonnes of the material to Russian entities.

Mr Deripaska was sanctioned by the UK government on March 10 alongside Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich in a Stg15 billion ($A27 billion) hit on seven wealthy Russians.

Australia subsequently sanctioned Mr Abramovich four days later.

Mr Vekselberg was also recently sanctioned by the UK government. 

with AP