It is noted that the funds will be transferred to the "Energy Support Fund for Ukraine", which is managed by Ukraine and the European Commission.

Since December last year, Ukraine has made two separate requests for coal from Australia, but the country's federal government has expressed reluctance to satisfy them.

Ukraine has again asked Australia to send a shipment of coal, but Australia's defense minister says the aid will focus on "practical" military support.

The Australian government will provide additional support of $31 million: $20 million for energy and $11 million in additional humanitarian support.

Humanitarian funding will go mainly to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which focuses on basic needs such as food, water and shelter. Some of the funding will also go directly to support people with disabilities through the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said it was cheaper and easier to send funds rather than direct coal.

"If you ship coal from Australia, you have shipping and insurance costs. In fact, this amount of money, if Ukraine wants to spend it on coal, will give an equivalent amount of coal to what we saw before. But it allows Ukraine to make its own decisions on where it can best use this funding", she said.

Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko said that Australia's assistance is very much needed.

"I am deeply grateful to the Australian government and Penny Wong in particular for this new package of timely assistance to meet Ukraine's energy security and humanitarian needs", he said.

• Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said his country has joined the drone coalition for Ukraine.