Defence Minister Judith Collins and Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv’s city military administration, view the destruction in Kyiv. Photo: Supplied
Defence Minister Judith Collins travelled to eastern Europe for formal talks with her Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal this week.
Collins sat down with Shmyhal in Kyiv, and also had engagements with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, the Office of the President and Deputy Minister of Defense Oleksandr Kozenko.
"Russia's illegal invasion has brought misery and destruction to the Ukrainian people for three-and-a-half long years now," she said.
"New Zealand's response was swift when Russia invaded in February 2022 - and our support for Ukraine remains steadfast. This was the key message I conveyed in Kyiv."
Collins visited the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian ballistic missile on 17 June, killing 23 civilians, including children, while in Ukraine.
"Seeing the devastating impact of Russia's illegal war - the disruption to everyday life, the human cost, the impact on children, the physical destruction - was heartbreaking."
Meeting with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Denys Shmyhal. Photo: Supplied
She also paid her respects at the Wall of Remembrance in Mykhailivska Square.
"My visit, accompanied by Chief of Defence Force Air Marshal Tony Davies, was a tangible reminder of both New Zealand's strong support for Ukraine and our strong support for the international rules-based order.
"My counterparts said they deeply valued the fact we had made the effort to travel from the other side of the world to demonstrate New Zealand's support and solidarity for Ukraine, and that it gave them enormous strength."
Collins also visited Warsaw this week, where she met with Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski and laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
She is scheduled to meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
Ukraine Deputy Minister of Defense Oleksandr Kozenko welcomes Defence Minister Judith Collins to Ukraine. Photo: Supplied
"Poland remains one of our most trusted partners in Central and Eastern Europe," she said.
"We are united by shared values and strategic interests that underpin our close relationship.
"My engagements in Warsaw underline Poland's critical role as both the key logistical hub for support to Ukraine and the anchor of NATO's eastern flank."
Meeting with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Denys Shmyhal and officials. Photo: Supplied
Collins will travel to the UK after her time in Poland for defence and security-focused meetings.
"New Zealand and the UK have a deep and enduring security partnership, including through our Five Eyes relationship," she said.
"These ties play a vital role in safeguarding the security of both our nations and allow us to contribute to collective efforts to uphold global security. I look forward to engaging with UK counterparts in the days ahead."
The defence minister will return to New Zealand on 13 September.
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