Dutton says although Russia’s mission has so far been frustrated by the “heroic” resistance shown by Ukrainians, the sheer weight of force wielded by Moscow cannot be ignored.

“It’s more and more worrying as the days go by. Russian soldiers – as we know through history – are a very brutal force, and the carnage we’re seeing right across the Ukraine is very confronting and it’s going to intensify,” he told Sky News on Wednesday.

Overnight Russian commanders intensified their infiltration of Ukrainian urban areas, warning Kyiv residents to flee their homes and deploying rockets on the city of Kharkiv.

Mr Dutton said despite support for Ukraine from Australia and other international partners, only China’s President Xi Jinping can stop the progress of Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s troops.

“The pressure really should be on President Xi to pick up that phone and, instead of offering comfort, offering words of direction to President Putin that he should withdraw from the Ukraine as quickly as possible,” he said.

But Australia was not considering sanctions against China at the moment, the defence minister confirmed.

He told the Nine Network the pressure against Russia was ramping up and that would continue.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Australia would send a $105 million package of weapons along with humanitarian assistance to Ukraine following the Russian invasion.

A $70 million defensive support package will include missiles and ammunition, while a further $35 million will be spent on humanitarian aid such as shelter, food and medical care.

Dutton said he hoped “common sense prevails” for President Putin.

“Hopefully (Russia’s) force is repelled eventually but at the moment, when you see capital cities being encircled, it is difficult to see a different outcome,” he said.