New Zealand to send Hercules plane to help distribute Ukraine military aid
Sydney, Australia, Apr 11 (EFE).- New Zealand announced Monday the deployment of a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft, 50 force personnel, and eight logistic specialists to Europe to support the distribution of defense aid to Ukraine.
“Over the next two months, our C-130 will join a chain of military aircraft from partner nations, traveling throughout Europe, via the United Kingdom,” New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
“But at no point will they (the aircraft) enter Ukraine, nor have they been asked to,” she emphasized.
She said the military transport plane would carry “much-needed equipment and supplies to key distribution centers.”
The government also pledged NZ$13 million ($8.9 million) in aid to purchase weapons and ammunition and support commercial satellite access for Ukrainian defense intelligence.
“Our support is to assist the Ukraine Army to repel a brutal Russian invasion because peace in the region of Europe is essential for global stability,” Ardern said.
New Zealand, which has already provided NZ$30 million and deployed a total of 67 people in support of Ukraine, had previously offered intelligence assistance and non-lethal military aid.
The government, which supports an investigation into alleged war crimes by Russia, has also provided humanitarian aid and temporary visas for family members of Ukrainians living in the country.
It has also imposed sanctions against 460 Russian entities and individuals, including Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The government imposed the sanctions after the approval of a new law in March.
The law enables New Zealand to impose economic sanctions targeting specific people, companies, assets, and services involved with the Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Starting Apr.25, the Oceania country will impose 35 percent tariffs on all imports from Russia and will extend existing export bans to industrial products closely connected to strategic Russian industries. EFE
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