August 09, 2022
Mark keeping Ukraine aid flowing
Former Defence Minister Ron Mark says a growing number of New Zealanders are heading for Ukraine to help with humanitarian support.
Mr Mark has been involved in four missions delivering aid, including two where he travelled to the country.
He told Radio Waatea talk host Merepeka Raukawa-Tait that while there has been no official New Zealand presence in the country, the work the New Zealand Defence Force is doing training Ukrainian artillery in England is appreciated.
On his latest trip, he saw a 5-kilometre line at the border of cars going back in filled with women, children and older citizens who were going back in to support their relatives fighting on the front lines.
“I just admire the hell out of them. Ukraine’s really got its back against the wall and for New Zealand, the question is there is so much that could be done, we’ve just got to have the will to do it, and it doesn’t all have to be lethal aid, there is so much in the humanitarian space,” Mr Mark says.
He says other European countries are supporting Ukraine because they don’t want to be fighting Russia on their own soil.