Norway is allocating three billion Norwegian kroner to Ukraine's air defence. The announcement was made by the Norwegian government in connection with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO summit in Ankara (Turkey).
According to the Norwegian government, Norway will join Denmark, Germany, and Canada in ordering new Patriot air defence missiles directly from the factory in the United States. Norway will also continue its support for NATO's PURL programme, which coordinates the financing and donation of advanced American defence materiel to Ukraine. To accelerate deliveries, Norway additionally plans to purchase Patriot missiles from countries that already operate the system, for rapid transfer to Ukraine.
"Ukraine's fight for defence is our fight for defence. Ukraine resists Russian attacks every day. Russia continues its aerial attacks against people, Ukrainian cities, and energy supplies. Ukraine can counter most drones and cruise missiles, but needs stronger defences against ballistic missiles. Defence against ballistic missiles is one of Ukraine's most critical needs. That is why we are now contributing three billion kroner to air defence," said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in the government's press release.
According to the government, Ukraine has also invited European partners to participate in the development of its own system for countering ballistic missiles. Norway is setting aside funds to enable a contribution to the initiative.
"Ballistic missiles could become a serious future threat to Norway and allied nations as well. That is why the Ukrainian initiative is of interest, including for our own defence capability," said Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik in the same press release.
Following his meeting with Støre, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X that the two leaders discussed, among other things, measures to strengthen Ukraine's air defence, Norwegian participation in financing gas purchases ahead of winter, and deepened cooperation on defence production and the financing of Ukrainian defence technology.