Ukraine and New Zealand's response

Ukraine and Russia

The Declaration of Independence of Ukraine was passed on 24 August 199. Ukraine gained its independence from Russia it inherited the third largest nuclear stockpile in the world, along with significant means of its design and production. The country had 130 UR-100Nintercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) with six warheads each, 46 RT-23 Molodets ICBMs with ten warheads apiece, as well as 33 heavy bombers, totaling approximately 1,700 warheads remaining on Ukrainian territory. While Ukraine had physical control of the weapons, it did not have operational control, as they were dependent on Russian-controlled electronic Permissive Action Links and the Russian command and control system.

Between one third and one half of Ukraine's trade was with the Russian Federation. Dependence was particularly strong in energy. Up to 75% of annually consumed gas and close to 80% of oil came from Russia. On the export side, dependence on Russia was also significant. Russia remained Ukraine's primary market for ferrous metals, steel plate and pipes, electric machinery, machine tools and equipment, food, and products of the chemical industry.

In 2002, the Russian Government participated in financing the construction of the Khmelnytskyi and the Rivne Nuclear Power Plants.

On 2 October 2008, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused Ukraine of supplying arms to Georgia during the Russo-Georgian War. Putin also claimed that Moscow had evidence proving that Ukrainian military experts were present in the conflict zone during the war. Ukraine denied the allegations.

On 14 August 2013 the Russian Custom Service stopped all imports coming from Ukraine. Some politicians saw that as start of a trade war against Ukraine to prevent Ukraine from signing a trade agreement with the European Union.

On 1 March 2014 without declaration of war, the Russian parliament granted President Vladimir Putin the authority to use military force in Ukraine. On the same day, the acting president of Ukraine, Oleksandr Turchynov decreed the appointment of the Prime Minister of Crimea as unconstitutional. He said, "We consider the behavior of the Russian Federation to be direct aggression against the sovereignty of Ukraine!"

On 17 July 2014 Malaysia Airlines flight 17 was shot down by a Buksurface-to-air missile launched from Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15 crew were killed.

In May 2015, Ukraine suspended a military cooperation agreement with Russia, that had been in place since 1993. Following a breakdown in mutual business ties, Ukraine also stopped supplying components used to produce military equipment in Russia. In August, Russia announced that it would ban imports of Ukrainian agricultural goods starting January 2016. In October 2015, Ukraine banned all direct flights between Ukraine and Russia.

On 2 February 2021, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy decided to shut down pro-Russian TV channels owned by the parliamentary deputy Taras Kozak, a close associate of Viktor Medvedchuk, the godfather of the daughter of Russia president Vladimir Putin. Medvedchuk is also said to be the real owner of the pro-Russian TV channels.

In July 2021, Putin published an essay titled On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians, in which he states that Belarusians, Ukrainians and Russians should be in one all-Russian nation as a part of the Russian world and are "one people" whom "forces that have always sought to undermine our unity" wanted to "divide and rule".[210] The essay denies the existence of Ukraine as an independent nation. Putin wrote: "I consider the wall that emerged in recent years between Russia and Ukraine, between parts of essentially one historic and cultural space, as one big, common problem, as a tragedy."

On 22 February 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would consider the possibility of severing Ukraine's diplomatic relations with Russia.

On 10 May 2022, it was reported that Russia was responsible for a large-scale cyberattack against Viasat'sKA-SAT network immediately before the Russian incursion into Ukrainian territory, primarily targeting the Ukrainian military's digital assets.

Thousands and thousands of people have been killed in the Russo-Ukrainian War since February 2022.

New Zealand and Ukraine slush fund

According to the New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade, the best thing New Zealanders can do to help the people of Ukraine is to donate money. By March 2022 the New Zealand Government had donated $11 million to Ukraine, and Australia had donated $100 million. Meanwhile the United States has appropriated approximately $115 billion in support Ukraine since February 24, 2022.

New Zealand has committed $9 million to Redcross for Strategy 2030 where they claim that they will promote and support more inclusive, equitable and cohesive societies.

New Zealand has committed $5.93 million to the United Nations Agenda 2030 Refugee Agency to relocate People around the World.

New Zealand has committed $1.85 million to the United Nations Agenda 2030 World Food Programme. Food Systems 2030 is an Umbrella Multi-Donor Trust Fund that seeks to help countries transform their food systems and progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

New Zealand has committed almost $10.59 million to the NATO 2030 to Strengthen One World Government.

New Zealand has committed $7.5 million to contribute to weapons and ammunition procurement through the United Kingdom.

New Zealand has committed $4.1 million to support commercial satellite imagery access for the Ukrainian Defence Intelligence.

New Zealand also provides annual funding to the United Nations of $60 million.

New Zealand provided $2.615 million to the International Criminal Court’s Office of the Prosecutor.

New Zealand provided $1 million to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.