Motions — Ukraine—Russian Military Action in Crimea

I seek leave to move a motion without notice in relation to the situation in the Ukraine.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action being followed? There is none.

I move, That the House express its deep concern at the Russian Federation’s violation of Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, in breach of its international obligations, and call for steps to de-escalate tensions, including the withdrawal of Russian troops back to base, and the promotion of dialogue among the affected parties. Over the past few days we have seen troops from the Russian Federation take steps that have placed them in effective control of the autonomous region of Crimea in the Ukraine. In doing so, Russia has breached its own bilateral treaties with the Ukraine, important principles of international law, and the accepted norms of international conduct. That Russia has legitimate interests at stake in Crimea is undeniable. This is a former Russian territory with a Russian-speaking majority and is the home of key Russian bases. But the manner in which Russia has pursued those interests is completely and totally unacceptable.

Yesterday, on my instructions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade called in the Russian Ambassador to register in very clear terms New Zealand’s alarm at these developments. Yesterday the Prime Minister advised that, despite good progress made by Minister Groser in his negotiations over recent weeks, now would not be the appropriate time to conclude a free-trade agreement involving Russia. As a small country New Zealand depends on good institutions and rules to promote constructive international conduct. What has happened in the Crimea in recent days challenges basic concepts of acceptable international behaviour, and we have said so.

What is needed now is a reversal in the current escalation of tensions. We need to see Russian troops go back to their bases. We need to see constructive dialogue among the affected parties in the place of provocation and threats. The New Zealand Government has therefore joined with those countries that share our values and principles and our growing dismay at unfolding events, in calling for calm, for concrete steps to de-escalate tensions, and for constructive dialogue between the affected parties.

I rise in support of the motion. The escalation of tensions in the Ukraine threatens the peace and security of Europe in a way not seen since the Balkan conflict. All countries need to work urgently to de-escalate the situation away from the brinkmanship that is leading us closer to conflict. Ukraine’s territorial integrity must be preserved and Russian forces should leave the country immediately. The prospect of a divided Ukraine is likely to lead to conflict and have disastrous knock-on effects right across Eastern Europe. We recognise the longstanding ties that Russia has with Ukraine and Crimea, but invading another country is absolutely contrary to international law. New Zealand has always been a strong advocate of international law that underpins a country’s integrity and its sovereignty. Without these laws, small countries like our own would be at the whim of larger nations. These are important principles that we steadfastly stand by.

Ukraine currently has an interim Government. The way forward is for all countries to support its move to democratic elections so that a democratic Ukrainian Government can decide its own future. It is essential, too, that the rights of ethnic Ukrainians and Russian minorities are protected wherever they may live.

We are pleased that the Russian Ambassador was told of New Zealand’s opposition to Russia’s military presence in Ukraine. The withdrawal of Minister Tim Groser from trade negotiations with Russia is also appropriate, though Tim Groser’s presence in Moscow at this time appears out of step with statements and actions of other countries. This is no time for business as usual, but a time to work for a democratic, unified, and prosperous Ukraine. That is in the interests of everyone, both here and across the globe.

We have an old-fashioned crisis on our hands. It is a test of 21st century diplomacy whether it can be resolved peacefully and with political foresight. Current international law and global norms offer some guidance as to how the situation can be resolved, but, as with every crisis, there are conflicting issues at stake. The challenge is to cut a critical path of principle through a complex situation of fact.

There are two cardinal precepts that underpin peace today. The first is non-violence and peaceful settlement. No crisis has ever been resolved in the modern era through the use of force. If force is employed, the tensions are simply buried. Crimea will be no exception. The second precept is sovereignty and territorial authority. No country has the right to unilaterally intervene in the domestic affairs of another. There can be no surrender of these principles. No subordinate reason can be advanced to overturn them. Protection of civilians is not an automatic reason, yet Moscow has claimed the right to intervene militarily in order to protect Russian-speaking Ukrainians from Ukrainians.

The Russian base in Crimea accords it no special rights in Ukraine any more than Okinawa in Japan does to the United States. This is not to disregard the legitimate interests of Russia as a proud nation in Eurasia or the genuine needs of the Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine. It is simply to assert that military force is not the way to solve the problems of today. That applies equally to all countries when they too contemplate aggression, such as the illegal attack on Iraq by the US, Britain, and Australia 11 years ago this month.

Crimea is not simply an issue for Russia; it is a global issue involving universal norms of human rights, democracy, and self-determination. Russia must take no military action against the rest of Ukraine, but, rather, engage in dialogue with Ukrainian authorities through the UN’s peace envoy. And the West? Western countries must stop discouraging Ukrainian leaders from such dialogue. States that talk do not shoot.

The Green Party urges an immediate freeze on military employment, and a dialogue between Ukrainian and Russian leaders under UN’s auspices—initially without the US or the European Union—followed by a further referral back to the United Nations Security Council.

New Zealand First supports this motion and joins other parties in expressing deep concern over the crisis in Ukraine.

Although New Zealand is far removed geographically from the region, developments in Ukraine have cast a shadow on international relations on a much broader scale, because as we know from history—and history is seriously relevant here—events sometimes take on a momentum of their own. A miscalculation in times of crisis can spiral into disaster. Ukraine faces great challenges in developing a strong and resilient young democracy. No one should ever underestimate that task. But the people of Ukraine have a right to determine their own destiny, free of external interference. New Zealand First joins the call on all parties to the crisis to exercise restraint at this critical time.

United Future also supports the motion that has been moved by the Minister of Foreign Affairs this afternoon, but notes with a degree of trepidation the rather unusual circumstances that we face. This is not the classic situation of one country invading another. There are legitimate issues that the people of Ukraine have to expect to see resolved in respect of their territoriality and their sovereignty. But there is also the long historical association of Greater Russia and there is also, I think, lurking behind all of this, the question of Russia’s prestige in today’s world and the prospect of precipitate action on either side leading to a reinstitution of the norms of the Cold War. This is a time for considered response.

I believe that the motion the Minister has moved is in that vein, but it would be inappropriate, as other speakers have suggested or implied, to move to a further stage in this confrontation without allowing the parties directly involved the opportunity themselves to talk, to negotiate, and to reach a settlement that will be in the long-term interests of both. This is not an Iraq into Kuwait - type situation. It is not even the United States trying to tidy up what it saw as the situation in Iraq. It is like no other situation we have confronted in recent years, and, therefore, it is important that in seeking to address it the international community acts deliberately but also acts in a way that will lead to a viable long-term solution and not the engraining of a deep-seated tension that will simply play out slowly but surely with mounting bitterness over the years ahead.

The ACT Party joins with others in this House to support this motion. We condemn what appears to be a brazen breach of international law by the Russian Federation in the Crimean Peninsula. The President of the Russian Federation says that Russia’s concern is for the safety of her many citizens in the Crimea. The correct course of action is for the Russian Federation to pursue bilateral negotiations with the Ukrainian Government to ensure the safety of its Russian citizens. The Russian Federation also has multilateral options to ensure that the safety of her citizens in the Crimea is a global concern.

However, none of these options have been exercised. Instead, what we appear to have is an old fashioned, 19th century land-grab. If the Russian Federation wishes to maintain a position of influence and respect among the communities of States, then she must uphold the rule of law in international affairs. The people of an independent and intact Ukraine must feel free to chart the future course for their country without military interference from immediate neighbours.

Motion agreed to.