The government is allocating $15 million to support a United States and NATO initiative to provide weapons and equipment to Ukraine, known as the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL).
Foreign Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins said the decision is “a significant contribution to support Ukraine’s defence.”
“The defence of Ukraine has significant implications not only for the security of Europe but also for the Indo-Pacific,” Peters said.
“We are working together to support Ukraine as we navigate an increasingly challenging strategic environment.”
The PURL aims to accelerate the delivery of essential weapons and equipment to Ukraine, enabling it to defend itself—its top priority as peace efforts proceed.
New Zealand’s contribution to the PURL will be used exclusively to procure weapons or equipment that comply with New Zealand’s international obligations and domestic policies.
“New Zealand stands in solidarity with Ukraine as it enters a fourth winter defending itself from Russian aggression,” Collins said.
“The challenge for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend its cities and its people remains immense in the face of the ongoing and relentless bombardment of Ukraine by Russian drones.”
Ukraine Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko said his president and all the people of Ukraine are grateful for the funding.
Myroshnychenko said the country has a need for ammunition, artillery, and air defence missiles to safeguard critical infrastructure.
“Winter is here and… it’s cold, and Russia’s hit our electricity distribution system, our power generation, our heating systems and many cities go through blackouts when they don’t have a steady supply of electricity. The same applies to heating.”
“We estimate it is 150,000 war crimes committed, and lots of crimes against humanity, and the war is still ongoing. Russians control 20 percent of our territory. Ukrainians realise that they don’t have an alternative but to fight because if we don’t fight we are done. It’s the end of Ukraine. It’s end of our sovereignty. It’s the end of our identity.”
“They just erase Ukrainian identity by rewriting curriculums, by forcing everybody to accept Russian citizenship – this is imperialism of the 19th century, and this is so brutal, and Russians are doing it at the moment.”