The Prime Minister has said that Russia “has self-nominated as a pariah state” through Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine and should be treated as akin to North Korea.

Scott Morrison, speaking to Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast while he recovers from COVID-19, said the alignment between Russia and China over Ukraine – including Chinese president Xi Jinping and Putin discussing the timing of the looming invasion of Ukraine – is very concerning.

He says the world needs to be prepared for autocrats breaking international law.

“They are paying a high price … this is having a very damaging impact on their economy, the targeted sanctions on individuals, it’s having an impact on their oligarchs, and the whole support system to President Putin.

“This all sends a very clear message to any other autocratic regime, and we know about a few of those in our own region, it should be a clear message to not take the wrong lesson out of this … there will be a heavy transactional cost in reputation and in economic terms and potentially militarily.”

Tap PLAY below to hear the PM’s full chat with Gareth.