Ukrainian Ambassador, his Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko, appears before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the rigours of nearly three years of war and the toll on Ukrainians underscored the need to bring the conflict rapidly to an end.
Western support is continuing for Ukraine, but there is a desire around the world for the war to end, and no more so than in Washington, under US President Donald Trump.
Ukraine's ambassador to New Zealand Vasyl Myroshnychenko said Russia had not been able to achieve any of its original goals set on its invasion of his country.
''Russia has brought misery, destruction, devastation to big parts of Ukraine.
''We have been able to destroy 50 percent of the Russian Black Sea Navy and they are now bogged down in the eastern part of Ukraine, gaining some ground, but at a very high casualty rate.''
He estimated that at this stage Russia had lost 800,000 people killed or injured.
When asked by RNZ how much longer Ukraine could last, Myroshnychenko said it was a good question.
''Of course as we get into a third year you can feel the people in Ukraine are getting tired and it's pretty natural.
''However, I think the free world has no right to get tired.''
''We are their fighting for democracy, we are there fighting for human rights and most importantly we are fighting for the international rules based system which Russia so blatantly breached.''
Myroshnychenko said Ukraine's objectives and those of the Trump administration, which was pushing for a end to the fighting, were the same.
''We want to see this war over.'
''What's important is we want to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.''
He said it had to ensure Ukraine had the right military fight with and to impose sanctions on various sectors of the Russian economy, like banking and the oil sector, and that the cost of the war should be very high for Russia.
''Also use the Russian immobilised assets. The seized assets, almost $300 billion of those assets which are now seized by the western countries. They should be used for the benefit of Ukraine.''
The suggestion that any cease fire could mean Ukraine may have to forfeit some territory is according the the ambassador not on the table as far as Ukraine is concerned.
''We are fighting for the people who are now under the Russian occupation and the reports we get from those corners, and it's still very restricted and limited, people are exposed to really heavy oppression.
''We will never give up on the Ukrainian people who are suffering right now.''
Myroshnychenko said Russia "wants to have the whole (of) Ukraine under the Russian rule and they want to destroy our sovereignty".
''A ceasefire will be just a ceasefire. We need a solid peace. We need security guarantees which will prevent Russian from invading us again in the future.''
He said that while it was impossible to see what wou; happen in 2025, he really wanted the war to be over.
''It will come to an end on Ukraine's terms.
''Most importantly we have to make sure Russia is held accountable for the war crimes they have committed and the crimes against humanity for all the damage inflicted on Ukraine's environment and they have to pay for it.''
The Ukrainian ambassador said his country was grateful for New Zealand's support.
''We are all interested in making sure that no other authoritarian leaders, especially here in the Pacific can be emboldened to do what Russia has done in Ukraine. We see now how much the security in Europe is connected to the security in the Pacific.
"Definitely the outcomes of this war will define security for the next several decades, including here in the region.''
Myroshnychenko has been Ukraine's ambassador to New Zealand and Australia for the past three years and is based in Canberra.
He is currently on a two-week visit to Aotearoa - his seventh trip since taking up the position.
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