MOSCOW, Feb 16: Norway has allocated USD 10 billion in military aid to Kiev since the special military operation began in February 2022 and plans to spend another USD 7 billion in 2026, Russian Ambassador in Oslo Nikolai Korchunov told RIA Novosti.
“In 2025, Norway’s allocations for military pumping of the Kiev regime under the Nansen Programme for Ukraine quadrupled to $7 billion. Oslo’s total military assistance has reached USD10 billion since February 2022,” Korchunov said.
Norway’s budget in this fiscal year earmarks an additional USD 7 billion in military funding for Kiev, the ambassador said. NASAMS air defense batteries, anti-aircraft missiles, and six F-16 jets were the “most valuable” contribution.
“Oslo, along with London, heads the naval aid ‘coalition’ for Ukraine, and takes part in similar groups for UAVs, air defense, and electronic warfare systems. NATO’s significant part of the Norwegian financing goes to the purchase of US weapons and ammunition for Ukraine through several multilateral mechanisms, including the NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List,” Korchunov said.
Norwegian defense firms are setting up joint ventures in Ukraine to produce artillery shells, anti-aircraft missiles, and unmanned boats, he said.
“Norwegian instructors have trained over 10,000 Ukrainian troops in Norway, the UK, Germany, Lithuania and Poland. Oslo is leading Operation Legio to train and equip the Ukraine armed forces’ brigade in the Norwegian-built Jomsborg camp near the Polish village of Lipa,” Korchunov added.
Norway and Ukraine inked a deal in November to make Ukrainian drones in Norway, with a pilot line slated for early 2026 launch and output ramp-up throughout the year, the ambassador said.
Russia has repeatedly said that Western arms supplies to Ukraine hinder the resolution of the military conflict and make NATO countries a party to the crisis. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine will be a legitimate target for the Russian military.
(UNI)
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