Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern returned to the international stage this week, even as the war in Ukraine threatened to spill beyond its borders.

"Worst-case scenario, the conflict spreads over the borders - then it becomes uncontrollable" - Al Gillespie

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern returned to the international stage this week, even as the war in Ukraine threatened to spill beyond its borders.

The ASEAN, G20 and APEC summits offered chances for conversations with several world leaders, driving home the value of diplomacy.

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News of a rocket blast in Poland that killed two people broke early on Wednesday morning New Zealand time. Its origins unknown, the possibility of a Russian attack sent authorities scrambling.

Poland called an urgent meeting of its national security council and NATO allies began immediate investigations, while world leaders at the G20 talks in Bali convened an emergency meeting led by Biden.

The stakes were immense: Poland is a member of NATO and could invoke Article 5 of the military alliance's charter which states an armed attack against one "shall be considered an attack against them all" and could prompt use of force. However, as Waikato University law professor Al Gillespie told Checkpoint, all 30 members would need to reach consensus for that to happen.

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New Zealand had just days before confirmed it was continuing deployments in support of Ukraine through to mid-2023.

Ardern - in Vietnam to rejuvenate New Zealand's trade with the $2 billion export market including limes and pomelos - had been anticipating heightened geopolitical tensions during her trip - but not to this extent.

She urged caution, "but also to continue to call for all leaders to do what we can to ensure that ultimately the war ends". …

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