New Zealand: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky urged New Zealand to take the initiative to draw attention to the environmental damage Russia's invasion is causing in his country.

At 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Zelensky used a video link to address a packed gathering of lawmakers. He was the second foreign leader to address the New Zealand Parliament, the first being Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in 2011.

Even though it may take years, Zelensky claimed that it was possible to rebuild the country's infrastructure and economy. But destroyed nature cannot be rebuilt like destroyed life.

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Zelensky is advocating a 10-point peace plan that includes justice and nuclear security in addition to environmental protection. He has urged different countries to take the lead on different issues.

He cited contaminated groundwater, destroyed forests, submerged coal mines, and vast areas of Ukraine still being contaminated by unexploded mines as some of the environmental effects of the war.

Zelensky offered a message of hope and thanked New Zealand for its contribution to Ukraine's war effort so far. He said that the power of governments in the free world is something that all dictators and invaders constantly underestimate.

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In addition to the NZ$8 million it has already given, New Zealand announced it was giving another NZ$3 million ($2 million) in humanitarian aid through the International Committee of the Red Cross.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told Zelensky that neither geography nor diplomatic ties influenced her country's support for Ukraine. Our assessment was straightforward, he said. "We considered the scenario we were in."

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According to him, New Zealand would like countries to speak in such a situation, "regardless of their political system, their distance, or their size". The MPs concluded the speech by singing a World War II song in the Māori language.