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What did allies pledge on 16 August 2022?
Summary
A look back at two political moves in support of Ukraine reported in the days before 16 August 2022, from New Zealand and Latvia.
What were Ukraine's partners doing politically as of 16 August 2022? Two reports from the preceding days point to support that was both practical and symbolic.
On 15 August 2022, the prime minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, announced that 120 New Zealand troops would be deployed to the United Kingdom to train Ukrainian forces. The announcement placed the training effort in the UK, with New Zealand personnel contributing to it.
Four days earlier, on 11 August 2022, the Latvian Parliament declared Russia a state sponsor of terrorism over its invasion of Ukraine. The declaration was a formal political judgement on Moscow's conduct, tied directly to the war.
Two kinds of support
The two steps differed in nature. New Zealand's was a concrete military contribution of a stated size, aimed at preparing Ukrainian forces. Latvia's was a parliamentary designation targeting Russia itself. Both were framed by the governments involved as responses to the invasion of Ukraine.
Taken together, they show support for Kyiv being expressed from countries far apart, through training on one side and political condemnation on the other.
