Russia poses a direct challenge not only to Ukraine, but also to the rest of the world, including Australia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Melbourne, according to the Australian TV channel ABC News.

When asked who poses the biggest threat to global security, Russia or China, Blinken said they were completely different challenges.

Russia right now is directly challenging not only Ukraine, but some very basic principles that are relevant to the security of not only people in Europe but around the world, including in Australia, he said.

Principles that do not include changing the borders of another country by force. These are the basic principles that are at stake when it comes to Ukraine and Russian aggression. And they are relevant here in this part of the world, just as they are in Europe, he added.

Referring to the issues that China is creating, especially in the South China Sea, Blinken said that what we are doing is upholding norms, rules, standards.