Vasyl Myroshnychenko: Ukrainian ambassador to New Zealand and Australia on NZ extending assistance to Ukraine until 2026

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has revealed that New Zealand will be extending its military assistance in support of Ukraine's self-defence until December 2026.

Luxon says this announcement signals New Zealand's ongoing commitment to Ukraine in the fact of Russia's aggression.

Vasyl Myroshnychenko, the Ukrainian ambassador to New Zealand and Australia says Russia won't be giving up any time soon - and support is still needed.

"Russia is belligerent, Russia is authoritarian, and Russia is not giving up on Ukraine, so we do still need to have a strong army - and New Zealand's Government is making a very significant contribution to improve on our military capabilities, for which we are extremely thankful."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Heather duper Cela, We're.

Speaker 2 (00:02):
Welcome to WAYN nine two nine two is the text number.
Standard text fee apply obviously now to the Prime Minister.
Our Prime Minister and his British counterpart, ser Kiir Starmer
are going to be visiting New Zealand troops training Ukrainian
soldiers in England later today. And this follows an earlier
announcement that our government will extend its aid and its
troops to Ukraine until December twenty twenty six. Now Vashal

(00:24):
Maurusian Nachenko is the Ukrainian ambassador to New Zealand and
Australia and is with US now Vassel. Hello, Hi, December
twenty twenty six. Do we still expect that the war
is going to be going on?

Speaker 1 (00:34):
Then? Look at the moment, we don't really see an
end to the war. I mean, we are, of course
observing the peace and negotiations that President Trump is trying
to get Russia to talking that we don't really see
Russians really on a mission to stop the war. They're
actually advancing now. Russians are now in the middle of

(00:56):
a major offensive. So we may where well have the
war even next year in December. But it's not only
about that. Maybe if we achieve some certain ceasefire at
a certain stage later this year, which would be certainly great,
and Ukraine and then people would really welcome that. We
do require training because no matter what happens next, we

(01:17):
cannot unfortunately change over geography. We cannot make you as
of a neighbor, because we'd love to have New Zealand
and Australia as of a neighbor. But you know, for
the we can't do it. We'll always have Russia, and
Russia is belligerent, Russia is authoritarian, and Russia is not
giving up on Ukraine. So we do need to have
strong KAMI and New Zealand government is making a very

(01:38):
significant contribution to improving other military capabilities, for which were
extremely thankful.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
Do you see a way that this war can end
without Ukraine having to give up some land.

Speaker 1 (01:51):
It's not about the lan Actually, you have to understand
that it's not the land that Russia wants. Russia wants
Ukraine destroyed entirely. Russia wants to end Ukraine's sovereignty. So
those people who believe that this war could be over
if we actually see any territory have no idea. What
they are talking about.

Speaker 2 (02:11):
How can the war end? So, how do you foresee
the war ending?

Speaker 1 (02:14):
Then the war can end in twenty four hours. Russians
just need to get out of Ukraine. Hm.

Speaker 2 (02:21):
But what's going to make them get out?

Speaker 1 (02:23):
Well, that's a good question. That's actually the strengths of Ukraine,
the strengths of other international allies, European allies, New Zealand, Australia,
North America, Canada. I mean, this is what we need.
We need to force Russia to stop this war. And
only by demonstrating that unity and strengths we can force

(02:44):
an authoritarian country which is violated you and Tartar, which
is committed an act of aggression, which is really undermining
security of the entire world. It's not only Europe, in
the Pacific is undermined. Look at North Korean troops out there.
Look at the Chinese actually now currently finding Ukrainians. How

(03:05):
do you think is it possible? And how do you
think it is effecting the security of New Zealand. It
does affect you, and you're all vulnerable.

Speaker 2 (03:12):
Appreciing to the choir here, but I mean, and the
thing is everybody wants Ukraine obviously to win. But that
is not happening at the moment. So what does it take.

Speaker 1 (03:21):
Well, it takes actually more. So a lot has been
done and we were certainly thankful to all the countries
who have supported us for the past three years. But
that more needs to happen and that's the reason why
you know, New Zealand government has joined the coalition or
the willing So what t British and the Freankish?

Speaker 2 (03:38):
More resources, more training, more.

Speaker 1 (03:41):
Resources, you know, potentially deployment of the troops, European troops primarily.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
Okay, Frank, be honest with me. Have we not missed
that moment now? I mean, if you have the US
pulling out, is anybody else going to fill that gap?
Is it not?

Speaker 1 (03:53):
Just?

Speaker 2 (03:53):
Is are we not looking at a situation right now
where Ukraine is on a trajectory to complete loss.

Speaker 1 (03:58):
Here we are now at the very important juncture, and
I think it will all depend on the leadership of
the democratic countries. Because Ukraine is stepping up for democracy.
We've been fighting for it for three years now. We
need the democratic countries to step up for democracy as well.
Because it's much more about Ukraine. It's about the liberal

(04:22):
free world, which is actually under massive attack at the moment,
and I hope that and that's the reason why Australia
and New Zealand are supporting us, because you are part
of that world and you are vulnerable, you're susceptible, and
we all see how the security in Europe will undermine
security of the inter Pacific. So I think we end

(04:43):
this fight together, and that's the reason why Kiwis are
supporting Ukraine and Ukrainian President is very grateful to Prime
Minister Christopher Luxan and I'm so happy that he is
in the UK at the moment that he will go
and inspect his defense forces who are currently training Ukrainians.
You know, for us, when we see that happening, it
is so heartening and it's so uplifting to the Ukrainian

(05:06):
soldiers who are currently in the trenches. And when they
see New Zealand contributing a country which is probably further
away than any other country in the world, it is
this is what gives them inspiration. That's why we keep
on fighting. That's why we keep on defending democracy. This
is something that you all chaerries, we all cherries, and
we share the same world and we want the world

(05:27):
to be back to rules based international order, which Russians
have blatantly violated because they have nuclear weapons.

Speaker 2 (05:34):
Listen, we're going to have to leave it there. I
really appreciate it. Thanks so much for your time having
a chair to us. That's Vassel Maroshnichenko, who is the
Ukrainian Ambassador to New Zealand and Australia.

Speaker 1 (05:44):
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