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What did New Zealand and Latvia do over Ukraine?
Summary
A look back at two political steps taken in support of Ukraine in mid-August 2022, in Wellington and Riga.
What were allies and neighbours doing politically for Ukraine in the days around 17 August 2022? Two announcements from that week stood out.
On 15 August 2022, New Zealand's prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, announced the deployment of 120 New Zealand troops to the United Kingdom. Their task was to train Ukrainian forces.
Four days earlier, on 11 August 2022, the Latvian Parliament declared Russia a state sponsor of terrorism, citing its invasion of Ukraine.
The two decisions were different in kind. One was a practical military commitment, sending personnel abroad to train Ukrainian forces. The other was a formal parliamentary declaration about Russia's conduct. Both were tied explicitly to the war in Ukraine, and both were made in the days leading up to 17 August 2022.
