Norway to give €830 million for Ukrainian troop training
Photo: Norway will provide 830 million euros for training and equipping Ukrainian brigades (Getty Images)
Norway will provide 10 billion kroner (830 million euros) for the training and equipping of a Ukrainian brigade. The project will be carried out in cooperation with the countries of Northern Europe and the Baltics, according to the Norwegian Ministry of Defense.
The announcement was made by the country’s Minister of Defense, Tore O. Sandvik, during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels on April 11.
The brigade is being formed in cooperation with Northern European and Baltic countries. It is not about creating an entirely new unit, but rather reinforcing existing Ukrainian brigades with smaller units that can be quickly integrated.
According to Sandvik, Norway is playing a leading role in this initiative by contributing to the supply of equipment, ammunition, and the training of military personnel.
The goal is to establish a fully capable ground combat unit able to operate independently. A brigade typically consists of 3,000 to 5,000 troops. The project is designed to be flexible and scalable.
Separately, the Norwegian Minister of Defense held a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov. They also discussed Ukraine's support within other international initiatives.
In particular, Norway has joined the drone coalition and signed a memorandum to join the electronic warfare (EW) coalition. Its contribution to the UK-led package includes the provision of radar systems and drones.
Norway’s support
Norway remains one of Ukraine’s key allies.
In November 2024, Norwegian parliamentary parties agreed to allocate 35 billion kroner (3.2 billion dollars) in aid to Ukraine in 2025.
Previously, the draft state budget of Norway had included only 15 billion kroner (around 1.3 billion dollars) in aid for Ukraine in 2025. However, this amount was met with criticism from opposition parties, and the budget was revised.
Following the revision, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and thanked him for increasing the support.
