Christopher Luxon has attended an online meeting with members of the Coalition of the Willing.
Photo: Supplied
The prime minister has attended an online meeting with members of the Coalition of the Willing, saying New Zealand will stand steadfast in its support for Ukraine.
The group consists of more than 30 countries that have pledged support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.
In a post on social media, Christopher Luxon said he had met with leaders of the coalition on “the fourth anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine”.
“I have the greatest of admiration for the brave people of Ukraine, whose soldiers are fighting for freedom, and the people of Ukraine who are enduring another winter of Russia’s vile attacks on its energy infrastructure,” he wrote.
“New Zealand continues to provide training for Ukraine’s Armed Forces so they can defend freedom. We continue to keep the pressure on Russia’s economy by tightening our sanctions regime.
“Russia is not winning its illegal war. Until a just and lasting peace is agreed, New Zealand will stand steadfast in our support for Ukraine.”
Christopher Luxon says New Zealand will stand steadfast in its support for Ukraine.
Photo: Supplied
Co-chairs of the coalition UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz released a statement reiterating the group’s “unwavering commitment” to achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, saying “international borders must not be changed by force”.
It urged Russia to engage in peace talks “in a meaningful way”, and to agree to a full and unconditional ceasefire.
The New Zealand government on Tuesday announced an additional $8 million in assistance to Ukraine, along with further sanctions targeting Russia’s war machine.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the package demonstrated New Zealand’s continued solidarity.
“Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion, now entering its fifth year, has devastated Ukraine, destabilised Europe and impacted the security of our own region,” he said.
“These contributions will help address urgent needs as a result of Russia’s brutal winter attacks on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure.”
The $8m would consist of $5m in humanitarian assistance to international aid partners, and $3m for the World Bank-administered Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund, which supported energy resilience and reconstruction.
The announcement brought New Zealand’s total humanitarian assistance to Ukraine to $45m over the past four years, the government said.
Its 34th round of sanctions against Russia included lowering the price cap on Russian crude oil and sanctioning 100 shadow fleet vessels.
“These are calculated steps to curtail crucial oil revenues fuelling Putin’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine,” Peters said.
It comes as the latest round of US-mediated peace talks in Geneva last week ended without a breakthrough.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.