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New Zealand has announced further war contributions to Ukraine following the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of the European country on 24 February this year.
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The New Zealand government announced an extension to support until June 2025, as well as additional funding for further military assistance.
That funding includes a total $25.9 million to Ukraine, included to the United Kingdom-administered International Fund for Ukraine to procure weapons and ammunition for Ukraine ($6.5 million), as humanitarian assistance ($7 million), and funding to the World Bank’s Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund ($3 million).
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the new funding brings the total value of New Zealand’s assistance pledged in the past two years to more than $100 million.
“The government is pleased to announce NZDF’s meaningful, visible and highly credible deployment of skilled personnel in support of Ukraine will extend until June 2025,” he said.
“Up to 97 NZDF personnel will continue to train Ukrainian soldiers and provide intelligence, liaison and logistics support.
“It demonstrates New Zealand’s unwavering support for Ukraine and our serious commitment to defending an international rules-based system that reflects our values and supports our interests.”
The New Zealand Defence Force will also match the changing needs of Ukraine and partners, to conduct specialised training in combat casualty care, combat engineering, leadership, and maritime explosive ordnance disposal training in Europe, according to Minister Peters.
NZDF personnel have already trained more than 2,700 AFU infantry recruits since contributions to the UK-based program began in June 2022. An artillery training team was the first on the ground, followed by infantry training groups. The NZDF’s sixth rotation of personnel to deliver infantry training is currently in the UK.
Commander Joint Forces New Zealand Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour said more than 500 NZDF personnel had been deployed under the NZDF’s Operation Tīeke, while many others had also supported those deployments from New Zealand.
“The NZDF trains to be ready to deploy when the government asks us to,” he said.
“Operation Tīeke centres on supporting Ukraine in their time of need. The government’s announcement of an extension to our mandate sees this support continue and with further specialist teams putting their skills to the fore to help Ukraine with their fight.”
Land Component Commander Brigadier Matt Weston said this training ensured AFU personnel were combat ready.
“The volunteer Ukrainian recruits arrive with little to no military experience, and after five weeks of training, they leave as soldiers.”
“As our personnel help prepare Ukrainians for the realities they will face in war, they are also increasing their connections with partner nations and growing their professional skills to best support those they are working with and alongside."
