Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said he believed Ukraine must win its war with Russia.
He is in Washington DC for the NATO Summit, where he is meeting with leaders from across the United States and Europe, and will chair a meeting with Australia, Japan and South Korea.
Luxon attended the NATO 75th anniversary dinner on Wednesday and is due to meet with the leaders of France, Canada, and Estonia today.
Christopher Luxon with other world leaders in Washington. Photo: Supplied
At a media briefing this morning Luxon said with tensions also bubbling away in parts of the Indo-Pacific such as in Taiwan and North Korea, a win for Ukraine over Russia was important for ensuring stability in our own region.
He said NATO might well need to increase its support for Ukraine to ensure a victory, and while he was proud of the support New Zealand has made to Ukraine so far he remained open to providing more.
New Zealand has so far invested $130 million to help Ukraine, including an extra $16m announced on Wednesday, as proof of its commitment.
Luxon said there was a clear sentiment that "unilateral actors" could not move into another country, as had happened with Russia's war in Ukraine.
"There is deep deep commitment and consensus to make sure that we have to win in Ukraine so if there is more support needed we will continue to have those conversations with the Ukrainians."
It was "quite seminal and quite critical" to international core values that nations stood together to help Ukraine.
"We've seen huge amounts of economic pain and suffering around the world as a consequence and also in Western Europe.
"So the principles we're wrestling with are the same principles as the European leaders are wrestling with."
It was encouraging there was "a uniformity and a consensus and a determination and a spirit" to stand up for the right values.
The government would be open to offering any other capability or resources to Ukraine if asked, he said.
Luxon again deflected questions from journalists on the uncertainty surrounding US President Joe Biden's campaign for re-election.
He agreed he was a big fan of actor George Clooney but would not be commenting on his call today for Biden to stand down.
