Latest news with #SecurityAssistanceandTrainingforUkraine
1News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- 1News
Govt announces $16m in new Ukraine support ahead of NATO Summit
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". "Its 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 support will go towards 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 aid for conflict-affected communities in Ukraine, and $1 million for Ukrainians displaced in neighbouring countries. ADVERTISEMENT Ahead of attending a NATO Summit in The Hague this week, Luxon said he expected Ukraine to be on the agenda alongside the ongoing US and Israeli conflict with Iran. "There'll be a lot of conversation, obviously, about the Middle East, but there'll also be a lot of conversation about Ukraine as well," he told media in Brussels. "We may be a long way from these conflicts, but it's important, if you've got values, that you stand up for them, you articulate them, and, where you can, put support to them." Foreign Minister Winston Peters said it's "vital" countries keep pressure on Russia and work to "achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine." Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins. (Source: 1News) "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." ADVERTISEMENT 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.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NATO military chair visits Ukraine, discusses continued support with Zelensky
NATO Military Committee Chair Giuseppe Cavo Dragone met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Feb. 8 during his visit to Ukraine. The two toured a long-range weapons plant and held a meeting to discuss ongoing military assistance. Ukraine has relied on in its defense against Russia's . Ukraine consistently voices its intentions to join the military alliance and regularly holds visits and summits with NATO leaders. and Dragone met to discuss preparations for the next Ramstein format meeting and Ukraine's defense needs. "We are grateful to NATO for its support of Ukraine from the very beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. Thank you very much for your first mission and decision to be in Ukraine," Zelensky said. Zelensky and Dragone discussed strengthened coordination of military assistance within the Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) framework, a command plan designed to allocate and coordinate military assistance to Ukraine. "The message I would like to convey not only to you but to everyone is that NATO is on your side. We are determined to fulfill all our commitments and to defend all the values and principles that we share," Dragone said on Feb. 8. Dragone and Zelensky further discussed direct investment in Ukrainian arms production following the "" of financing in a visit to a plant. The Danish model of financing aims to more effectively utilize military spending by funding domestic weapons production amid restrictions on foreign long-range weapons. Read also: Syrskyi marks first year in office by highlighting key achievements, including strikes on 377 military targets in Russia We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
