The New Zealand Government announced Monday the deployment in Europe of a Hercules C-130 aircraft, 50 soldiers and 8 military personnel skilled in logistical tasks to work on sending and distributing military aid to Ukraine.
“Over the next two months, our C-130 will join a chain of military aircraft from partner nations that will travel across Europe, through the UK, bringing much-needed equipment and supplies to key distribution centers, but at no time will they enter Ukraine,” said New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, in a statement.
The New Zealand Government also announced today a contribution of 13 million New Zealand dollars (8.9 million US dollars or 8.2 million euros) for the purchase of weapons and ammunition, and to cover access to commercial satellites for the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence, among others.
“Our support is to help the Ukrainian Army repel a brutal Russian invasion because peace in the European region is essential for global stability,” said Ardern.
New Zealand, which has already contributed funds amounting to 30 million New Zealand dollars (20.5 million US dollars or 18.8 million euros) and deployed a total of 67 people to help Ukraine, previously offered military intelligence assistance and the shipment of non-lethal material.
The Wellington Executive, which supports the request to investigate alleged war crimes attributed to Russia, has also provided humanitarian assistance and a temporary reception programme for the families of Ukrainians living in the country.
New Zealand already applies sanctions against 460 individuals and entities in Russia, including President Vladimir Putin, after a new law allowing the country to impose targeted sanctions came into force in March.
Likewise, this ocean nation will impose 35 per cent tariffs on all imports from Russia as of April 25 and will extend the ban on exports to that country of industrial products, as a sanction to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
(With information from EFE)
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