Ardern leads Parliament motion with Ukrainian battle cry
‘‘Slava Ukraini,’’ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said as she asked Parliament to join her in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The proclamation, which translates to ‘‘Glory to Ukraine’’, has become a battle cry for the Ukrainian people, who yesterday were fighting a fifth day of a Russian invasion ordered by President Vladimir Putin last week.
‘‘We have all been shaken by what we have seen, because what we have seen is a sense of stability, or order, of security, being taken away. That affects all of us. And so too must we all act,’’ Ardern said, in a speech to the House yesterday afternoon.
‘‘This war must end.’’
Ardern was joined by leaders of all political parties in decrying the invasion during a sitting of Parliament.
The motion passed by the House, which called on Russia to withdraw its military from Ukraine, came hours after New Zealand added ‘‘key members’’ of the Belarusian government to its travel ban list. The additional sanctions were confirmed by the permanent representative to the United Nations, Carolyn Schwalger, in a speech to an emergency session of the UN General Assembly yesterday morning (NZ time).
‘‘We acknowledge with a grim sense of horror, but sadly with little surprise, the role of accomplice and facilitator that Belarus has played in support of Russia’s invasion,’’ she said.
Belarus, which neighbours both Russia and Ukraine, has hosted within its territory Russian troops that invaded and fired missiles into Ukraine. The former Soviet nation has for decades been ruled by Alexander Lukashenko.
Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi also confirmed the Government was expediting the processing of 170 visa applications for Ukrainians – half of these were Ukrainians overseas and the remainder in New Zealand already.
But Ardern’s Government has faced criticism for not pursuing further sanctions on Russia, or offering refuge to the family members of Ukrainian New Zealanders.
‘‘We encourage the Government to take two simple steps so that New Zealand can play an even stronger role: First, urgently pass autonomous sanctions legislation . . . we’re willing to work with and support the Government to get legislation through this house, but let’s do it quickly,’’ National Party leader Christopher Luxon said yesterday afternoon.