Ministry Statements & Speeches:
President Zelenskyy, global leaders, Excellencies and friends - Greetings from New Zealand.
New Zealand has been a supporter of the Crimea Platform since its launch in 2021 and we continue to see participation in the Platform as a way to channel our collective voices and hold Russia to account for its aggression towards Ukraine.
New Zealand condemned Russia’s attempted illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and we continue to condemn it now.
Russia’s occupation of Crimea, like its occupation of other parts of Ukraine, is a gross violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine has taken an appalling toll on Ukraine’s people, its environment, its economy, and its civilian infrastructure.
In July, at the NATO Summit held in Washington, I chaired a meeting of the Indo-Pacific Forum countries – Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand.
We discussed the way North Korea’s ballistic missiles and weapons are now being used by Russia to fight its war in Ukraine, and we recommitted to work together with our close partners to defend sovereignty, to protect our trade routes, and to preserve the international order.
Russia’s attempted strangling of Ukrainian trade from its ports in the Black Sea since 2022 has been a direct consequence of Russia’s ongoing illegal occupation of Crimea.
Russia has ultimately failed thanks to Ukraine’s efforts to restore maritime security in the western Black Sea, and to develop the Black Sea shipping corridor.
Prosperity is only possible with security, and the whole world benefits when commercial shipping can move safely, and supply chains are maintained. I congratulate Ukraine on its successful efforts in this area.
New Zealand Defence Force personnel have been deployed to Europe in missions supporting Ukraine since mid-2022. And these missions, involving nearly 100 New Zealand personnel, will continue over the coming year and will include delivery of maritime explosive ordnance disposal training for members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is our intent that this training will assist Ukraine in maintaining maritime security in the Black Sea.
In addition to the efforts of our Defence Force personnel, New Zealand has also announced this year new sanctions on individuals and entities supporting Russia’s military efforts; additional military assistance for Ukraine to procure arms and ammunition including drones; and support for the medical rehabilitation of Ukrainian military veterans.
While the Armed Forces of Ukraine continue to fight valiantly in self-defence, we look forward to a future when Ukraine can enjoy a comprehensive, a just, and a lasting peace.
When I saw President Zelenskyy in Washington I assured him that, whether by helping Ukraine defend itself or sanctioning Russia, New Zealand is in it for the long haul. And that’s because we demand that international rules are respected. And it’s because security is indivisible, and what is happening in Ukraine reverberates globally.