The telephone connection “Coalition of the provisions” was organized by the first -British minister Sir Keir Stmermer, and was attended by, among others, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, French President Emmanuel Macron and the Australian first -minister Anthony Albanese.
Other nations included Germany, Italy and Canada and NATO Secretary -General – but not the United States.
“New Zealand should be shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine,” Luxon wrote in X after the connection last night.
“Our discussion included how to support Ukraine to achieve just and lasting peace.”
A New Zealand defense attaché was already participating in negotiations in Paris, along with employees of about 30 countries.
New Zealand originally was not expected to participate in the call, but on Friday, Luxon confirmed that he had been invited and accepted.
“It will actually be a chance for an update of the different lines of diplomatic efforts that are going to ensure peace in Ukraine,” he said at the time.
‘Coalition of the provisions’
Stmerer said on Saturday that Western allies were intensifying the preparations to support Ukraine in case of ceasing with Russia, with defense heads defined to sign “robust plans” next week, Reuters informs.
The first -British minister hosted the virtual meeting to mark more pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to accept a ceasefire agreement being pressured by US President Donald Trump and gathering commitments to help secure any agreement -something Trump made it clear that he expects Europe to take over.
Stamer said the “coalition of the provisions” had reaffirmed his commitment to help Ukraine resist Russia’s three-year invasion and to ensure any ceasefire emerging from Trump’s proposals to Russia.
Although Russia has received the proposal to cease -in principle, it has also established conditions that essentially reaffirm its war goals, suggesting that any agreement will not come quickly.
Stmerer said to reporters, “We agree that we will continue to increase the pressure on Russia, we will keep military aid flowing to Ukraine and will continue to cling to Russia’s economy to weaken Putin’s war machine and take it to the table.”
Britain and France say they could send peace forces to Ukraine in case of ceasing. The first -Australian minister Anthony Albanese said his country was also open to requests.
Even if a truce is awake, but it is not yet clear, including the details of the US position.
Zelenskiy said he stressed the need for Ukraine safety guarantees, including the post of foreign troops.
However, Russia insists that it will not accept Western forces on Ukrainian soil.
And Stmerr said that to prevent Putin from attacking again, there must be a safety “backstop” of a reluctant Washington, whose forces, weapons, and logistics are the backbone of NATO’s Western Alliance.
“We are talking to the US daily,” he said.
– Additional Reuters Reports
