The Government is dispatching 50 New Zealand Defence Force troops to Europe to assist with the logistics of moving weapons and aid into Ukraine.
New Zealand will also donate an additional $13 million to support Britain in procuring equipment for the Ukrainian military as it fights off Russia’s invasion that began in February.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, speaking after Cabinet met on Monday, said the Government will deploy a Defence Force C-130 Hercules aircraft with the 50 personnel to Europe on Wednesday for two months.
A further eight Defence Force logistic specialists will be sent to Germany to support the international donation coordination centre with the flow of aid and supplies to Ukraine.
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The $13.1 million will go towards military and legal and human rights support, including $7.5 million for weapons and ammunition procurement by the UK, $4.1 million to support commercial satellite access for Ukraine forces, $1 million to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and $500,000 for the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court.
"Our support is to assist the Ukraine Army to repel a brutal Russian invasion because peace in the region of Europe is essential for global stability," Ardern said on Monday.
"Such a blatant attack on a country's sovereignty is a threat to all of us and that's why we too have a role to play," she said of Russia's invasion.
"The global response has seen an unprecedented amount of military support pledged for Ukraine, and more help to transport and distribute it is urgently needed, and so we will do our bit to help."
