Drones, military training, and humanitarian projects discussed at the meeting between the Ministers of Defence of Ukraine and New Zealand
On September 3, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, met in Kyiv with the Minister of Defence of New Zealand, Judith Collins, and the Chief of Defence Force of New Zealand, Air Marshal Tony Davies.
The Minister of Defence of Ukraine expressed gratitude to the people and leadership of New Zealand for their comprehensive support in resisting russian aggression.
During the talks, Lieutenant General Andrii Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, briefed the New Zealand delegation on the current battlefield situation and the key needs of the Ukrainian military.
The parties discussed the priorities for bilateral defence cooperation. In particular, the Minister of Defence of Ukraine proposed exploring opportunities for cooperation in the production of naval drones.
Other matters on the agenda included the prospects for a bilateral security agreement, involvement in the Coalition of the Willing, and humanitarian initiatives.
“I proposed that New Zealand participate in funding rehabilitation programs for Ukrainian service members and civilians released from captivity. We also highly value the participation of New Zealand instructors in the Interflex training program for Ukrainian service members,” said Denys Shmyhal.
During the talks, the Ukrainian Minister of Defence expressed gratitude to New Zealand for its support in countering the russian shadow fleet.
He also called on international partners to maintain and intensify sanctions against the aggressor, particularly regarding the confiscation of frozen russian assets.
