New Zealand announces $13M additional aid for Ukraine

ANKARA

New Zealand on Monday announced an additional $13 million in the military and legal aid for Ukraine including deployment of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft to Europe, officials said.

In a statement, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the cabinet has approved providing $7.5 million to the UK to procure weapons and ammunition for Ukraine's armed forces from the additional $13 million aid. The remaining amount will be provided to Ukraine to support commercial satellite access for their defense intelligence, the statement added.

Wellington will also give $1 million to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and $500,000 to 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,” said Jacinda Ardern.

“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 added.

According to the premier, the cabinet also decided to deploy Defense Forces C-130 Hercules transport aircraft with 50 support personnel from Wednesday to Europe – for two months.

However, the New Zealand aircraft and personnel will not enter Ukraine, it explained.

“Over the next few months, our team will travel throughout Europe transporting much-needed equipment and supplies to key distribution centers, but at no point will they enter Ukraine," said Defense Minister Peeni Henare.

Russia's war on Ukraine, which began on Feb. 24, has been met with international outrage, with the European Union, US, and the UK, among others, implementing stringent economic penalties on Moscow.

At least 1,793 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 2,439 injured, according to estimates by the UN, which noted that the true figure is likely far higher.

More than 4.5 million Ukrainians have also fled to several European countries, with millions more displaced inside the country, according to the UN refugee agency.

* Writing by Islamuddin Sajid