Minister Mark Mitchell has shaken hands and shared a message of support with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy before the president turned to Newshub's camera with a message of his own to the New Zealand people.
Mitchell was attending the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland on Monday NZT where world leaders have gathered to seek broader consensus for Ukraine's peace proposals.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters last week announced senior Cabinet Minister and former Defence Minister Mitchell would represent New Zealand at the summit.
"His travel to Switzerland for this summit demonstrates the New Zealand Government's continued solidarity with Ukraine and engagement with Ukraine’s ten-point peace formula," Peters said.
More than 90 countries took part, but China's absence in particular dimmed hopes the summit would show Russia as globally isolated.
On Monday morning NZT, as Zelenskyy was leaving the event following a speech, he crossed paths with Mitchell where the two shook hands and had an exchange.
Newshub's camera was set up to film Mitchell and caught the minister sharing New Zealand's support and wishing Zelenskyy's nation "all the best, take care".
Zelenskyy then turned to Newshub's camera with a message of his own.
"Thanks to the people of New Zealand for participating and for your support, we are thankful," he said with a thumbs up.
Mitchell told him "You're welcome, take care", before the pair shook hands again and parted.
Speaking to Newshub Europe Correspondent Lisette Reymer following the exchange, Mitchell said it showed the importance of attending the summit.
"I was very proud as a representative for us as a country to be there and know that they're aware - and you just saw the president come through and you just saw him stop and turn to your camera and send a message back to us as a country to say thank you.
"It was important that we were here and when you hear the stories and you actually think about the human cost and what is happening it's incumbent upon us to make sure that we are here and we are continuing to support the people of Ukraine."
Mitchell said being at the summit and hearing from the president personally it made the war "a lot more real".
"You get a lump in your throat when you hear some of the leaders talking and the impacts."
