Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Har Støre has announced new financial assistance to Ukraine. The country will also provide additional air defence systems.
In 2024, Norway will provide direct economic support to critical services in Ukraine. The country is also trying to strengthen the protection of critical infrastructure by providing additional air defence equipment, Støre said during a briefing on the occasion of the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The government website reports that Norway will provide Ukraine with additional NASAMS air defence systems worth NOK 335 million (over €28 million).
"Some are being shipped from our own warehouses to ensure quick delivery to Ukraine, while others are being ordered from the industry for delivery at a later date," the statement said.
The country will also continue to provide financial support to enable the Ukrainian government to pay salaries.
"Mr President Zelenskyy and his government need to pay nurses, teachers, doctors and other workers and we are able to help with US$1 billion for 2023 - this year is coming to an end soon. And we are also increasing our financial and humanitarian support by about $800 million for this year," the prime minister said at a briefing.
The Norwegian PM added that the country is also increasing co-financing of the defence industry with European partners to produce more ammunition for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
He also recalled the budgetary support of the World Bank's mechanism to help Ukraine provide basic social services. The country has also announced a winter aid package: food, water and warm clothing.
Zelenskyy called Norway one of the leaders in supporting Ukraine. He said that Norway is helping Ukrainians with NASAMS air defence systems, and that Norway was the first country to adopt a long-term programme of support for Ukraine.
Norway has a five-year aid package for Ukraine, which includes both defence and reconstruction.