October 28, 2026 — 6:40pm

Greens leader David Shoebridge has been embarrassed by the attendance of the Russian ambassador at his inaugural National Press Club address in which he doubled down on calls to deny Ukraine military aid – a policy critics say is pro-Kremlin.

Shoebridge, who says he did not invite Mikhail Petrakov to the event, said the Greens party room stood for “peace and non-violence” but was “rock-solid” in its support for the people in Ukraine.

Greens leader David Shoebridge addresses the National Press Club. Alex Ellinghausen

“We 100 per cent rock-solid support the people of Ukraine to resist the illegal and immoral war,” the Greens leader told the Press Club.

“Rock-solid support for their struggle against an illegal invasion by Russia, rock-solid support for humanitarian and direct financial support to the people of Ukraine and the government of Ukraine.

“And we also support the firmest, clearest, most unambiguous sanctions against the state of Russia.…