Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says people are getting "hung up on terms" over whether New Zealand is part of the coalition of the willing on Ukraine.
The group consists of more than 30 countries which have pledged strengthened support for Ukraine against Russian aggression, including an agreement to be part of a peacekeeping force.
New Zealand has extended its deployment of Defence Force personnel in the United Kingdom to train Ukrainian troops, and while it has contributed to some coalition talks, Defence Minister Judith Collins has said New Zealand has made no commitment to the coalition itself.
Christopher Luxon speaks to soldiers at the joint UK-NZ training site in the south of England. Photo: RNZ / Soumya Bhamidipati
During their bilateral meeting in London, Christopher Luxon and Sir Keir Starmer discussed the coalition, with Starmer thanking New Zealand for its ongoing support.
Sir Keir Starmer and Christopher Luxon observed a joint defence operation to train Ukrainian troops in the South of England. Photo: RNZ / Soumya Bhamidipati
Speaking after the bilateral, Luxon said the coalition was "a broad arrangement," and New Zealand and other like-minded countries would continue to stand with Ukraine.
"We're obviously party to some of the conversations that are taking place here in Europe around what may be possible post a ceasefire. But clearly, we need to see a ceasefire. We need to see a peace plan. And, as I've said before, we're open to participating in peacekeeping arrangements, but we will need to see peace secured first."
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the training site. Photo: RNZ / Soumya Bhamidipati
Luxon said as a small country on the other side of the world, New Zealand would not be the ones "creating the ceasefire environment" but would continue to play its part.
He said the coalition was "a definitional term" that people were struggling with.
"You can get hung up on terms, all I'm just saying to you is that over the last three years, we've been deeply involved in training Ukrainian solders. We continue to do so, and we continue to stand with Ukraine. And so I think there's different interpretations of what that is or what that isn't."
Miltary personnel at the training site. Photo: RNZ / Soumya Bhamidipati
Luxon and Starmer visited a military training site in the South of England to see the training first-hand and meet some of the troops.
Starmer said New Zealand was already contributing to the coalition, and praised its involvement in the joint training.
"I'm really proud that we're standing here, as two prime ministers of the United Kingdom and New Zealand, standing side by side, seeing the joint training that is being done in relation to our Ukrainian colleagues," he said.
"And I think that is a statement of intent and symbolises the closeness of our two nations. We may be many, many miles apart. But in values, in history, outlook, particularly the way we approach defence and security, we're very closely aligned."
Luxon told the soldiers they were "deeply inspirational," and it was "sobering" that many of them had already been out on the frontline, attended the training, and were ready to deploy again.
"I want you to know that you are heroes. President Zelensky is a hero, and all Ukrainian citizens are heroes as well in our eyes," he told them.
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