NOK 1.2 billion is given from a British-led fund to be used for the procurement of air defences for Ukraine. In total, it is a large support package of 92 million pounds, almost 1.25 billion Norwegian kroner.
This was announced during a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) in Amsterdam on Tuesday, where Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) also participated.
The need for military support for Ukraine is extensive and time-critical, not least in air defence. Donations make it possible for the country to defend itself against Russia’s military attacks contrary to international law, says Gram.
The changes in our security policy environment concern all policy areas and the whole of society. Russia has shown that it is willing to use all available means to influence the outcome of the war in Ukraine. The relationship between European energy security and securing the national petroleum industry makes this clear. (NTB)
Norway has already contributed NOK 1.5 billion to the same fund, the International Fund for Ukraine. More than NOK 7 billion has so far been collected through the IFU after contributions from Great Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland and Lithuania, says Gram. The British have contributed a total of 250 million pounds (3.4 billion kroner).
The British have 11 times as many inhabitants as Norway, and have so far contributed just over twice as much as us. Norway is, as usual, best in class.
Other countries contributing to the support package are the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Lithuania. This funding is only the first of several, the British authorities write on their website.
The funding for air defence is the first of five expected support packages as part of the second round of IFU procurement.
The JEF is a group of like-minded nations – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom.
These nations share the same purpose, values and a common focus on security and stability in JEF’s core regions of the Arctic, the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, according to British authorities.
Putin rattles his sabres and says he is willing to negotiate peace if the arms deliveries stop. He is also threatening to withdraw Russia from the agreement that ensures grain exports from Ukrainian ports via the Black Sea, which he claims has not been respected.
In a televised meeting with Kremlin correspondents, Putin said the deal, which was supposed to benefit “friendly” countries in Africa and Latin America, has instead benefited Europe
European countries have received most of the grain from Ukraine and therefore ensured the country has access to foreign currency, he said.