New Zealand has told Ukraine it will look at more ways to help it win the war against Russia.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters met with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba in Brussels overnight during a NATO summit.
Since Russia's invasion in February 2022, New Zealand has committed more than $100 million in financial assistance and has trained thousands of Ukrainian troops.
NZ Foreign Affairs Minister said it's "logical" to think China is watching Russia and how the world has responded to the war. (Source: Breakfast)
Peters wouldn't say how the Government would continue to help Ukraine – but he told 1News that, despite New Zealand being geographically far away, the outcome of the war has an effect.
"If Russia wins this war in the way they've begun it, it won't stop there. There will be ramifications worldwide. That's why it's important," he said. "Hopefully this won't go on and on like it is and the Ukraine people will triumph there. That's the key part of this conversation."
The situation in Ukraine was also important as NATO continued to carefully monitor China and its influence in the Indo-Pacific. While keen to stress he wouldn't speculate, Peters said it was "logical" to think China was watching Russia and how the world has responded to the war.
Leaders are drawing up plans for what's labelled a 'Trump-proof' Ukraine funding operation. (Source: 1News)
However, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg went one step further: "The more successful [Vladimir] Putin is in Ukraine, the more likely it is that we can see something similar happen in the South China Sea."
Ukraine has been a major talking point at the NATO Foreign Minster's meeting with the 32 countries agreeing to work towards the alliance having a greater role in coordinating aid.
There were fears a second Donald Trump presidency would bring about "winds of political change" and the possible $100 billion, five-year military aid package would aim to "Trump-proof" western support for Ukraine.
The details were expected to be discussed in coming weeks, with final confirmation set for the main NATO summit in Washington in July, where New Zealand has also been invited.
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