The tiny nation of North Macedonia - population 2 million, has donated an unspecified number of T-72 tanks and 4 Su-25 fighter jets to Ukraine. 

North Macedonia isn't just smaller than New Zealand in terms of population it is also much smaller in terms of land area and its economy is tiny compared to New Zealand's.

By comparison the actual equipment New Zealand has donated has been body armour, helmets and some L119 gun sights.

The amount of money New Zealand has donated to the NATO Trust Fund doesn't even cover the amount of money we received from the sale of the 22 NZLAVs to Chile - equipment that arguably should never have gone there in the first place.

I have tweeted parliament about this. Please like, reply or retweet.

I have also been closely following the Beehive releases around New Zealand aid for Ukraine. Although there was a release pertaining to further Russian sanctions on the 1st of August, the last actual release of support for Ukraine was on the 27th of June. It is now the 7th of August. Hopefully this does not mean that aid packages for Ukraine have ended. The conflict is no longer in the news as much but we have not forgotten. The USA clearly hasn't forgotten as it recently released a 1 billion dollar military aid package.

Our government may believe that the Pacific is our primary area of concern, not Europe, but what is going on in Ukraine is important to the whole world. It is particularly important to a small country like New Zealand. New Zealand relies on a rules based order where large countries aren't simply allowed to conquer small countries just because they feel like it.

What is happening in Ukraine is almost beyond words. A Ukrainian POW in Popasna had his head put on a stick. I will spare you links to this. The question is, is New Zealand going to step up and be a serious part of the solution to this, or are we just going to sit on the sidelines and offer token support?

Cheers,

Finn