Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: RNZ / AFP
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was among the world leaders on a teleconference call regarding a ceasefire in Ukraine at the weekend.
Major European powers have thrown their weight behind the ceasefire, that has the backing of US President Donald Trump. They have threatened President Vladimir Putin with new sanctions if he does not accept.
Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky said Ukraine was ready for talks with Russia if Moscow agreed to the proposed 30-day ceasefire - even agreeing to talk face-to-face with Putin himself in Istanbul later this week.
Luxon told Morning Report on Monday he joined the call on Saturday evening.
"What we're wanting there is we want to support the 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting today, on land, sea and sky. We think it's really important."
He said Russia started the conflict, and it needed to agree to this ceasefire so longer-term negotiations on a peace deal could begin.
Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, annexing Crimea. A full-scale invasion of the rest of the country began in 2022, Russia citing concerns Ukraine would join NATO and making unsupported claims the Ukrainian government were neo-Nazis, and even that Ukraine was not a real country.
Western nations have assisted Ukraine in its defence by supplying weapons, equipment, funds and training troops, but have not yet deployed any boots on the ground. There have been discussions for a potential multinational peacekeeping force following the cessation of hostilities.
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