Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Picture: RNZ / AFP
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was among the many world leaders on a teleconference call regarding a ceasefire in Ukraine at the weekend.
Main European powers have thrown their weight behind the ceasefire, that has the backing of US President Donald Trump. They’ve threatened President Vladimir Putin with new sanctions if he doesn’t settle for.
Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky stated Ukraine was prepared 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 informed Morning Report on Monday he joined the decision on Saturday night.
“What we’re wanting there may be we need to help the 30-day unconditional ceasefire beginning right now, on land, sea and sky. We predict it is actually vital.”
He stated Russia began the battle, and it wanted to conform to this ceasefire so longer-term negotiations on a peace deal might start.
Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, annexing Crimea. A full-scale invasion of the remainder of the nation started in 2022, Russia citing issues Ukraine would be a part of NATO and making unsupported claims the Ukrainian authorities had been neo-Nazis, and even that Ukraine was not an actual nation.
Western nations have assisted Ukraine in its defence by supplying weapons, tools, funds and coaching troops, however haven’t but deployed any boots on the bottom. There have been discussions for a possible multinational peacekeeping drive following the cessation of hostilities.
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