New Zealand has pledged a further $NZ3 million ($A2.8 million) in humanitarian aid for Ukraine after Volodymyr Zelenskiy's virtual address to parliament in Wellington. The Ukraine President spoke to a full chamber of New Zealand MPs on Wednesday morning, urging Jacinda Ardern's government to go further in assisting his country's defence. "I'm grateful to you, dear friends, for the fact that New Zealand was one of the first countries to support Ukraine in its struggle," he said. "We very much appreciate all this in Ukraine ... but perhaps the time has come for your country to make a unique contribution." Mr Zelenskiy implored New Zealand to sign on to assist his "Ukrainian formula for peace", unveiled last month, which includes asking other nations to provide guarantees for food safety and energy security along with a military de-escalation. In response to the address, Ms Ardern pledged humanitarian assistance, saying she hoped New Zealand's cross-party resistance to Russia's invasion would show Ukraine had not been forgotten. "Our support for Ukraine was not determined by geography. It was not determined by history, or by diplomatic ties or relationships," Ms Ardern said. "Our judgment was a simple one. We asked ourselves the question, 'what if it was us'." New Zealand's latest support will be given through the International Committee of the Red Cross. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said on Wednesday New Zealand would levy sanctions on Iran for supplying weapons to Russia. Wednesday's pledges follow indirect military support worth almost $NZ48 million ($A45 million), humanitarian support worth more than $NZ10 million ($A9 million) and other diplomatic measures from Wellington. Mr Zelenskiy signed off with a Maori expression of gratitude, "nga mihi". Ms Ardern replied in kind, finishing her address with "slava Ukraini", meaning glory to Ukraine. Other parliamentary leaders replied to the speech, beginning with opposition leader Chris Luxon, who called Mr Zelenskiy "our generation's Winston Churchill". Mr Luxon pledged New Zealand would be part of Ukraine's rebuilding effort, while another right-wing leader, David Seymour, said if the right bloc was successful at next year's election, Ukraine would receive "a lot more than the $3 million ($A2.8 million) you saw today". The Maori Party concluded proceedings with a waiata, or Maori song. Speaker Adrian Rurawhe said the waiata was written in response to World War II "and it was an honour to sing it today to you". The Ukrainian President is the second leader to address New Zealand's parliament, after Julia Gillard in 2011, and the first to do so virtually. Australian Associated Press
