1. Recognition of Ukraine: 26 December 1991.
2. Establishment of diplomatic relations: 3 March 1992.
3. Diplomatic presence
Ukraine’s interests in New Zealand are represented by the Embassy of Ukraine in Australia, with the Ambassador of Ukraine accredited to New Zealand on a non-resident basis. New Zealand’s interests in Ukraine are represented by the Embassy of New Zealand in Warsaw.
Paul Ballantyne serves as New Zealand’s non-resident Ambassador to Ukraine and presented his credentials to the President of Ukraine on 5 November 2025. New Zealand also maintains an Honorary Consulate in Kyiv.
Ukraine has Honorary Consuls in Auckland and Dunedin, whose consular districts cover New Zealand’s North and South Islands respectively.
Political relations
Ukraine and New Zealand enjoy friendly bilateral relations based on respect for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, international law, democracy and the rules-based international order.
New Zealand consistently condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and has supported relevant resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly.
Political dialogue between Ukraine and New Zealand has intensified considerably since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. On 13 December 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the Parliament of New Zealand. In July 2023, the President of Ukraine met the Prime Minister of New Zealand on the margins of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, while in December 2023 President Zelenskyy held a telephone call with newly appointed Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
Regular contacts between the Presidents, Prime Ministers, Foreign and Defence Ministers, as well as the Parliaments of the two countries, continued throughout 2024–2026.
On 25 June 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on the margins of the NATO Summit in The Hague. They discussed further military support for Ukraine, stronger sanctions against Russia, prospects for investment in Ukrainian defence production and cooperation in countering Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia.
In September 2025, New Zealand’s Defence Minister visited Ukraine and held meetings with senior representatives of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Office of the President.
New Zealand actively participates in international initiatives in support of Ukraine. It attended the Summit on Peace in Ukraine held in Switzerland and joined the Joint Communiqué on a Peace Framework. New Zealand also participates in working groups of Ukraine’s Peace Formula dealing with food security, the return of prisoners and deported persons, restoration of justice and prevention of further aggression.
New Zealand joined the international Drone Coalition on 10 July 2024 and the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children on 14 August 2026.
New Zealand’s support for Ukraine
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, New Zealand’s provided and announced support for Ukraine has reached approximately USD 117 million, including around USD 75 million in military assistance.
New Zealand’s support includes military training, intelligence, logistics and liaison support, contributions towards military equipment and ammunition through international mechanisms, as well as humanitarian assistance and support for Ukraine’s recovery, demining, nuclear safety and energy resilience.
Since 2022, New Zealand Defence Force personnel have contributed to international efforts to train Ukrainian military personnel. Nearly 1,000 NZDF personnel have served in Europe and the United Kingdom in support of Ukraine under Operation Tīeke.
In 2026, New Zealand joined the Norway-led multinational Operation LEGIO, which trains members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Poland.
On 8 September 2026, the New Zealand Government extended Operation Tīeke until 30 June 2028. Up to 70 NZDF personnel will be deployed in Europe, with most training Ukrainian personnel in Poland, including in specialist areas such as electronic warfare and drone operations. New Zealand will also continue providing intelligence, liaison and logistics support.
On 30 June 2026, New Zealand announced an additional NZD 5 million in humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, to be delivered through the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN Humanitarian Fund for Ukraine.
Sanctions policy
New Zealand maintains a comprehensive sanctions regime against Russia and individuals and entities from third countries supporting its aggression against Ukraine.
Since the Russia Sanctions Act entered into force in March 2022, New Zealand has imposed sanctions on more than 2,000 individuals, entities and vessels, alongside a range of trade and sectoral measures.
The measures target, among others, Russian officials and military figures, defence-industrial entities, financial institutions, propagandists and sanctions-evasion networks, as well as actors from Belarus, Iran and the DPRK supporting Russia’s war.
On 24 February 2026, New Zealand announced its 34th round of sanctions, including measures against 100 vessels associated with Russia’s “shadow fleet” and a reduction of the price cap on Russian crude oil.
On 8 August 2026, New Zealand announced its 36th round of sanctions, designating 24 individuals and nine entities. The package notably targeted actors involved in the forced relocation, abduction and “re-education” of Ukrainian children, malicious cyber activity, anti-Ukraine propaganda and Russia’s military-industrial complex.
Key bilateral contacts
Ukrainian community
According to New Zealand’s 2023 Census, 2,151 people identified as being of Ukrainian ethnicity, while 2,460 residents reported Ukraine as their country of birth. These are separate statistical categories.
Ukrainian community organisations operating in New Zealand include associations representing Ukrainians in the northern and southern parts of the country, the Ukrainian community in Wellington and Mahi for Ukraine.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, New Zealand introduced special immigration pathways for Ukrainians. As of May 2026, 1,968 work visas and 325 student visas had been approved under the 2022 Special Ukraine Visa, alongside 287 residence visas under a separate special pathway.
Visa regime
Ukrainian citizens require a visa to travel to New Zealand. Applications for most visa categories can be submitted online through Immigration New Zealand.