Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha welcomed New Zealand's Minister of Defence Hon Judith Collins KC to Kyiv and held talks on developing bilateral cooperation, including in the areas of security and defence.

This visit marked the second-ever visit to Ukraine by the head of the New Zealand Ministry of Defence.

Andrii Sybiha expressed gratitude to the Government of New Zealand for its constant support, including participation in the Drone Coalition, the deployment of the New Zealand Defence Force in Europe to train Ukrainian military personnel, and the provision of logistical and intelligence support within the framework of Operation Interflex/Tieke.

During the meeting, the parties discussed New Zealand's steadfast support for Ukraine, including in the areas of military assistance and sanctions policy, as well as cybersecurity, defence, technology, and other promising areas of cooperation.

Minister Collins reaffirmed New Zealand’s unwavering support for Ukraine and its intention to continue and expand cooperation with Ukraine in the areas of security and defence.

The meeting was an important step in strengthening the bilateral relationship between Ukraine and New Zealand, reaffirming a shared commitment to the principles of international law enshrined in the UN Charter, as well as New Zealand’s further support for Ukraine in confronting ongoing Russian armed aggression.