Norway to allocate $240 million to strengthen Ukrainian Navy
Photo: Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere says the Norwegian government will allocate 2.7 billion kroner ($242 million) to strengthen the Ukrainian navy and help it deter Russian naval forces in the Black Sea, according to Reuters.
“It is essential to protect the Ukrainian population and Ukrainian infrastructure from attacks by Russia's Black Sea Fleet,” he said.
Stoere added that it is also important to protect the export of grain and other products by sea, which brings Ukraine important revenues.
The majority of the funding will go to innovation and autonomy under the Maritime Capability Coalition, which Norway and the United Kingdom launched last year to make Ukraine's navy more compatible with Western allies.
The support includes donations from the Norwegian Armed Forces, as well as military equipment purchased from industry for donation.
The government said the funds will also be used for demining operations and training for Ukrainian soldiers.
"The systems we are providing will enhance the ability of Ukrainian forces to detect and defuse mines along their coastline,” said Defense Minister Bjoern Arild Gram.
Norway's aid to Ukraine
Norway remains one of Ukraine's main allies.
In November, Norwegian parliamentary parties agreed to allocate NOK 35 billion ($3.2 billion) to help Ukraine in 2025.
In the draft state budget of Norway, only NOK 15 billion (about $1.3 billion) was allocated to help Ukraine in 2025. However, this caused dissatisfaction among opposition parties, and the budget was revised.
After that, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and thanked him for the increase in aid.
By the end of the year, Norway may transfer 6 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
According to UK intelligence, Russia's Black Sea Fleet lost a quarter of its ships as a result of Ukrainian strikes. It was forced to withdraw from Crimea but retains the ability to launch missiles.
