“The only way to guarantee our people that they will be safe from the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons is for them not to exist,” she said.
“That’s why Aotearoa New Zealand calls on all states that share this conviction to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”
“If there is a threat to the territorial integrity of our country and for protecting our people, we will certainly use all means available to us,” Putin said, adding, “I’m not bluffing.”
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also explicitly said nuclear weapons “could be used for such protection.”
Ardern said the blocking of progress on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by Russia represented a step backwards for the efforts of every country pushing for nuclear disarmament.
While acknowledging that nuclear disarmament would be an “enormous challenge” at the current stage, Ardern said she would choose to take on the challenge rather than face the consequences of “a failed strategy of weapons-based deterrence.”
“We will remain a strong and passionate advocate for efforts to address the weapons of old, but also, the weapons that are new,” she said.
Ardern also criticised Russia’s campaign in Ukraine as an “illegal” and “immoral” war that was a “direct attack” on the international rules-based system.
“Putin’s suggestion that it could at any point deploy further weapons that it has at their disposal reveals the false narrative that they have based their invasion on,” she said.
PM Backs UN Veto Changes
In his remarks to the same U.N. general assembly, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his support for increasing the veto-wielding permanent and non-permanent representatives of the U.N. Security Council.However, Ardern went a step further and called for the complete abolishment of the veto powers of permanent members.
“These [multilateral] institutions are the ballast we need, but it’s a ballast that requires modernisation, fit for the tumultuous waters we all face,” she said.
“The veto must be abolished, and permanent members must exercise their responsibility for the benefit of international peace and security, rather than the pursuit of national interest.”
Ardern referred to when Russia vetoed a resolution in February that demanded the Kremlin to immediately stop its invasion of Ukraine.
Expelling the Russian Ambassador Under Consideration
Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta has indicated that the status of the Russian ambassador in New Zealand was under “active consideration.”She said the ambassador had not yet been expelled because of New Zealand’s position in keeping open diplomatic channels “in order to de-escalate the situation.”
