Photo: RNZ / AFP
The coalition government has committed a further $16 million in support for Ukraine, bringing New Zealand's total financial aid contribution since 2022 to more than $130m.
The prime minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters made the announcement at the start of Christopher Luxon's four-day visit to the United States.
Luxon will meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday NZT when the four Indo-Pacific countries, invited to the NATO summit, hold talks with Zelensky in Washington DC.
The prime minister is chairing the IP-4 meeting that will also be attended by Japan and Korea's prime ministers and the Australian defence minister.
Following that meeting, the IP-4 leaders and Zelensky will also be invited to attend a council meeting with the NATO heads of government and state, where support for Ukraine - as it defends itself against Russia - is set to be the key talking point.
The financial assistance comes after Russia blasted the main children's hospital in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine with missiles on Monday, killing at least 36 civilians in the deadliest air strike attacks in months.
Luxon condemned the attacks, posting online: "Putin's gruesome attack on Okhmatdyt Children's hospital in Kyiv underlines his appalling tactics.
"In Washington this week, I'll underline that New Zealand continues to stand firmly with Ukraine. Slava Ukraini."
The $16m announced by the coalition will provide an additional $6m in military assistance for Ukraine, and $10m in humanitarian assistance for affected communities in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, Luxon said in a statement.
"Of the military assistance, New Zealand will provide $2m to support military healthcare for Ukraine, and $4m to the drone capability coalition for Ukraine led by the United Kingdom and Latvia."
"New Zealand understands that while we are distant from Ukraine, what happens there affects us all, and we are prepared to stand with Ukraine for the long haul," Luxon said.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was a "blatant violation of international law, including the UN Charter", Peters said.
"It was illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified."
"Russia's war of aggression has undermined global peace and security, and Russia's obstruction at the United Nations has undermined the multilateral institutions charged with keeping all of us safe," he said.
In addition to the financial assistance, new sanctions under the Russia Sanctions Act 2022, focused on individuals and entities providing military and strategic support for Russia, will be announced in coming days.