Peace in Ukraine?

Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to New Zealand and Australia, joined Emeritus Professor Rob for an up-to-date assessment of the prospects for peace.

15 December 2025

Almost four years since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the New Zealand Government continues to regard Russia’s action as an "illegal and unprovoked war of aggression", which breaches international law and the UN Charter. As well as joining General Assembly votes condemning Russia, New Zealand has imposed numerous sanctions on Russia and provided various forms of assistance to Ukraine.

In recent weeks, proposals for peace in Ukraine have received much attention. It remains unclear if these will end in a peace with justice for Ukraine, an imposed peace without justice or continuation of a costly war.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to New Zealand, His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko joined Emeritus Professor Rob Rabel for an up-to-date assessment of the prospects for peace.

Vasyl Myroshnychenko was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Australia and New Zealand in March 2022. Prior to joining the Foreign Ministry, the Ambassador was a founder and partner at CFC Consulting, advising companies on corporate and investor relations as well as business and governmental interaction. He graduated from the Institute of International Relations at the Taras Shevchenko National University, as well as studying at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and at Lehigh University in the United States.

Roberto Rabel is a Professorial Fellow at the Centre for Strategic Studies. He has been affiliated to the Centre since retiring from his management role as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International Engagement) at Victoria University of Wellington in 2016 after 10 years overseeing the University’s internationalisation strategies and activities. He holds a BA Honours degree in History and International Politics from Victoria University of Wellington and a PhD in History from Duke University, where he studied as a Fulbright Scholar.

Watch the full lecture below.