The New Zealand Government has announced $16 million in additional support for Ukraine, revealed just before Prime Minister Christopher Luxon takes part in a NATO Summit in the Netherlands.
The Prime Minister said the country “stands in solidarity with Ukraine.”
“It’s war of self-defence is well into its fourth year and our condemnation of Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion remains undiminished,” Luxon said.
The funding will be spent on two $4 million contributions to funds for lethal and non-lethal military support, including the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine fund, and the UK and Latvia-led Drone Coalition for Ukraine.
New Zealand will also provide $7 million in further humanitarian assistance for conflict-affected communities in Ukraine, and $1 million for Ukrainians displaced in neighbouring countries.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said it’s “vital” countries keep pressure on Russia and work to “achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
“The defence of Ukraine has significant implications not only for the security of the Euro-Atlantic, but also for the Indo-Pacific,” Peters said in a media release.
“We must continue to work with others in the international community to uphold a rules-based order that serves all our interests.”
New Zealand’s total support since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 totals over $168 million and includes a deployment of up to 100 Defence Force personnel who are providing military training.
Luxon’s European visit continues
On the second day of Luxon’s five-day trip in Europe, he visited war memorials in Belgium’s Ypres, an area where several key battles took place in World War I.
This included the Battle of Passchendaele, where more New Zealanders were killed than on any other day since the start of the war, with around 960 soldiers killed according to Parliament. The event is known as the darkest days in New Zealand’s history.
Luxon also visited the only Māori war memorial in Europe, Pou Maumahara, as well as Passchendaele Museum, Tyne Cot Cemetery and the New Zealand Battlefield Memorial at Messines Ridge. The PM said the day had been “quite sobering.”
Around 18,000 New Zealanders died during World War I or because of it, and 41,000 instances of wounding or illness were recorded.
More than one in ten New Zealanders served in the Expeditionary Forces, with the country’s population approximately 1.1 million at the time.
