New Zealand announces new aid package for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia

According to Ukrinform, this was reported on the New Zealand government's website.

“Russia’s relentless bombardment of civilian infrastructure this winter has hit Ukraine’s people hard, and this assistance demonstrates New Zealand’s continued solidarity. These contributions will help address urgent needs as a result of Russia’s brutal winter attacks on Ukrainian civilians and energy infrastructure,” Foreign Minister Winston Peters stated.

It is noted that New Zealand will provide NZD 5 million ($2.98 million) in humanitarian aid to international partners supporting Ukrainian civilians who have been severely affected by the war. Thus, New Zealand's total humanitarian aid to Ukraine over the past four years amounts to NZD 45 million ($26.8 million).

Another NZD 3 million (over $1.7 million) will be allocated to the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction, and Reform Trust Fund, administered by the World Bank and supporting energy sustainability and reconstruction.

In addition, New Zealand announced on Tuesday a 34th package of sanctions against Russia, which includes lowering the price cap on Russian crude oil and sanctions against 100 ships in the shadow fleet.

“These are calculated steps to curtail crucial oil revenues fuelling Putin’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine,” Peters said.

New Zealand has also imposed sanctions against entities from Belarus, Iran, and North Korea, as well as against alternative payment service providers, malicious cyber entities, and those who support the Russian military-industrial complex.

As reported by Ukrinform, earlier on Tuesday, the British government announced a new package of military and humanitarian support ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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