The Prime Minister and her government seem constitutionally incapable of deciding to provide substantive arms support to Ukraine in that country’s battle against the might of the forces of Putin’s Russia.
Providing items that do not enhance Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and to take the attack to the invading Russians is not effective assistance by New Zealand. It is window-dressing on the periphery of an appalling war of aggression.
Many of the democracies with which NZ identifies have promised and are providing military hardware to Ukraine, but Jacinda Ardern, a former president the International Union of
Socialist Youth, seems to find it hard to take the step of providing effective help to a country fighting to defend itself and its citizens against aggression and heinous slaughter.
It would seem that Ms Ardern is looking over her shoulder at China, a country that has not supported UN votes condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and its commission of apparent war crimes against its people.
I am drawn to the conclusion that Ardern’s government is more concerned with not upsetting China than in assisting Ukraine in its hour of desperate need.
The PM, who exhorted Kiwis to “be kind” to their fellow citizens during the battle against Covid, needs to bring herself to apply the same attitude towards the people of Ukraine who are fighting for their very survival.
Anthony Mercer
Howick
