Helicopters whirred overhead and security was high when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky returned to Oslo on Tuesday for an overnight visit. It was his fourth trip to Norway since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and this time he could lend defense support instead of just receive it.
Zelensky arrived Tuesday evening at Norway’s official guest house adjacent to the prime minister’s residence, and Jonas Gahr Støre was ready to welcome him once again. With Norway as one of the world’s largest donors to Ukraine’s defense against Russia, the two are well-acquainted and Zelensky’s gratitude is clear and constant: “Thank you so much” has become one of his verbal trademarks.
After a short meeting between the two, however, they could present a new agreement for industrial cooperation between Norway and Ukraine. “Norway is a stable supporter of Ukraine, but it’s not just one-sided,” Støre said. “Ukraine gives a lot back, and we can learn from the experience Ukraine has obtained in the tough battle against Russian aggression.”
The new agreement calls for production of Ukrainian drones in Norway. “Our teams will talk through the details,” Zelensky said, but it basically calls for Norway to produce drones on license from a Ukrainian company. Norwegian Defense Minister Tore O Sandvik was enthusiastic.
“No one in the world is better than Ukraine at defending itself with drones,” Sandvik told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) during live coverage of the meeting in Oslo. “They have just offered their services in the Middle East and they are offering the same services to Norway.” Germany is already supporting Ukraine’s drone industry and Norway is now joining in.
“Ground to air defense is a big issue, to be able to shoot down what Russia is firing at (the Ukrainians) day and night,” Støre said, “but for us this is concentration on industrial cooperation. It’s no longer just one-way help to Ukraine.”
Norway has emerged as Ukraine’s second-largest donor, with around NOK 85 billion in the state budget this year: NOK 70 billion to military support and NOK 15 billion to humanitarian aid. Four of Norway’s retired F16 fighter jets have also been given to Ukraine but remain at a Sabena facility in Belgium where they’re being refurbished. Two have been used for training purposes, Støre said in response to recent criticism in Norway that they aren’t all operative yet.
On Wednesday Zelensky visited the Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) once again, where he has earlier received standing ovations for his efforts to preserve democracy and freedom in his homeland. He received another warm welcome Wednesday morning from the president of the Parliament, Masud Gharahkhani, and all the parliamentary leaders of the nine parties represented in parliament.
Gharahkhani stressed how there’s still strong support for Ukraine across all party lines in Norway, also following last autumn’s parliamentary election. After support from the US waned under orders from Donald Trump, it’s become more important than ever for other countries to help Ukraine defend itself and democracy in general.
“During the past few months Ukraine has, under Zelensky’s strong leadership, managed to show that this war is in no way lost,” Gharahkhani said. At the same time, he added, it’s critical that Europe remains unified in its support despite all the other concerns and distractions over wars in the Middle East.
“This is all about our common democratic values and our common European future,” Gharahkhani said, adding that it also was important for the Norwegian defense industry to have close ties to Ukraine.
NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund
