In 2024, the Norwegian government will additionally allocate $600 million to strengthen Ukrainian air defense and provide humanitarian aid, announced Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
According to the source, today, April 30th, the Norwegian parliament supported an increase in aid to Ukraine in 2024.
Later, the Prime Minister of Norway clarified that an additional 7 billion Norwegian kroner (over $600 million) would be allocated for assistance to the Ukrainian state.
"The situation in Ukraine is more serious and uncertain," the Prime Minister stated.
He also suggested that Norway may expand the Nansen Programme, within which they allocated 75 billion Norwegian kroner (almost $7 billion) in aid to Ukraine over five years.
Zelenskyy's reaction
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already responded to Norway's decision and thanked the Norwegian Prime Minister.
"I appreciate that the majority of these funds will be used to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, which is our top priority for protecting lives. We value Norway’s unfaltering support, understanding of our pressing needs, and willingness to stand by our side in the most critical time," Zelenskyy wrote.
Strengthening Ukraine's air defense
Ukraine is under constant shelling by Russian forces. Against this backdrop, Ukrainian diplomats have repeatedly called on allies to provide additional air defense systems.
In particular, the main priority in these requests is Patriot systems, as they are capable of destroying ballistic missiles.
Ukraine hopes to receive at least seven such batteries. So far, allies have only announced the provision of one aid package, which Germany has decided to provide.
