The world is changing fast. The Prime Minister on what it means for us

Same, same but different might describe New Zealand’s stance on Russia.

It began as a diplomatic clanger when Foreign Minister Winston Peters appeared reluctant to shift blame back to that country, for the nerve agent attack on a former Soviet double agent in the UK city of Salisbury – for fear it would jeopardise his efforts to get suspended FTA talks back on track.

Those efforts back on the scrap heap, it ended with no real doubt New Zealand was on the right side of the argument; that is with the UK.

But no doubt part of the highlevel trade and relations tour he and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have been on over the past two weeks was dedicated to damage control as New Zealand sought assurances over FTA support from European Union countries and the UK.

Hot off the heels of a successful European tour, meeting the leaders of France, Germany, the UK and four of the Five Eyes intelligence network, as much as she might have liked to, Ardern could not escape questions of Russia.

But it was not all about New Zealand. The backdrop of Russian aggression permeated every leaders’ talking points.

And while New Zealand’s position is ultimately on the same page as our Five Eyes partners, it’s also slightly different. It may not be a bad thing.

Ardern sat down with Stuff to discuss New Zealand’s reliance on the ‘‘international rules-based system’’. It’s a jargon term that likely means little to the public, but has been thrown glaringly into view in the face of a concerted attack on the very matrix within which we live.

‘‘I think what you’ll hear from New Zealand’s position and standpoint is that we have always promoted the use of those international platforms and international order and rule of law,’’ said Ardern. ‘‘Because we are amongst the many countries that lose if we do not maintain that principle.’’

The system includes the UN, the International Court of Justice, the World Trade Organisation – all systems that while flawed, preserve peace and prosperity that a small country relies on. ‘‘We’re a small nation, who has equal voice at the table in those international forums where we don’t want to see a rise in unilateral action by either

STUFF Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, pictured with other Five Eyes leaders, says New Zealand has always promoted international order and rule of law to resolve global issues.