Scott Morrison has urged Australians still in Ukraine to leave now as the federal government warns Russia must respect its neighbour's sovereignty.
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The prime minister remains "highly concerned" about the deteriorating situation as Russian troops continue to mass on the border with Ukraine.
"We hold out real concerns about where this will ultimately lead to," Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
He flagged a meeting of Quad foreign ministers - representing Australia, India, Japan and the United States - in Australia later this week.
"We would be urging Russia to remain engaged in the reciprocal dialogue," Mr Morrison said.
"Any breach of Ukraine's territorial sovereignty is not a mark of peace; it is a mark of those who would seek to take sovereignty from others for whom it should reside with."
Australia has sought to contact all Australians in Ukraine over recent weeks, many of them dual citizens, and urged them to leave.
"We reinforce that message. The travel advisories are very clear," Mr Morrison said.
"The vast majority of those Australians who live in Ukraine, their lives are in the Ukraine. Many of them have dual citizenships. Their families are there or in neighbouring countries, particularly in Poland.
"They'll be looking to their own arrangements, as we understand it."
Australian Associated Press
