Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke to Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Saturday morning to reiterate New Zealand's support for Ukrainians and our condemnation of Russia's aggression.
"Prime Minister Shmyhal thanked New Zealand for being one of the first countries to take swift practical action against Russia’s aggression," Ardern said in a statement.
"As he noted, when it comes to the importance of the global response, there is no bigger or smaller country, there are only countries that are reacting."
Ardern announced on March 7, the Russia Sanctions Bill which passed under urgency to provide further sanctions on Russia.
The new sanctions can be imposed on people, services, companies, and assets related to those in Russia who are responsible for or associated with the invasion, or that are of economic or strategic relevance to Russia, including oligarchs.
"I conveyed our condemnation of President Putin’s unprovoked, unjustified and illegal attack on Ukraine – an attack which continues to unnecessarily claim the lives of so many innocent people," she said.
“New Zealand will continue to call on Russia to immediately cease military operations in Ukraine, and permanently withdraw to avoid further catastrophic loss of innocent life."
The Prime Minister discussed with Shmyhal the humanitarian need in Ukraine and said New Zealand will provide an initial $6 million in funding.
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"We also discussed the historic nature of our Russia sanctions legislation, passed under urgency, allowing us to add 364 political and military individuals to our travel ban list, and placing sanctions on Russian Leader Vladimir Putin and members of his Security Council, as well as other entities," Ardern said.
"Russia continues to demonstrate a disregard for diplomacy and efforts to avoid conflict, and must continue to face the consequences of their decision to invade Ukraine."
On Friday, an additional 364 political and military targets were added to the travel ban list, also 13 individuals and 19 entities were added to a targeted sanction list.
However, there has been criticism that a Russian oligarch with a mansion in Northland isn't on the release.
On Instagram, Ardern posted that New Zealand will continue to do what we can to help the situation in Ukraine.
"We will continue to do what we can to show our support for Ukraine and it’s people - as the whole world must."
