Eide i Ukraina
Espen Barth Eide på besøk i Ukraina januar 2026. Her sammen med Ukrainas utenriksminister Andrij Sybiha. Credit: Oleksandr Techynskyi

These are both priority areas for Norway’s support to Ukraine and contributions that have been specifically requested by Ukraine.

‘It is bitterly cold in Kyiv today, with a temperature of -16°C. We can only imagine what it is like for people who are without power for six hours at a time. We are now providing funding that Ukraine desperately and urgently needs. The infrastructure that supplies electricity to ordinary Ukrainians is coming under Russian attack several times a week. Ensuring that people can keep warm, cook food and live reasonably normal lives is vital in enabling them to persevere in this war – a war that they are fighting on behalf of us all,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide.

Norway is in regular dialogue with the authorities in Kyiv and with other actors about how best to distribute Norwegian support for the energy sector. The aim is to respond to Ukraine’s needs and to apportion risk effectively. It is important to maintain energy production and make it more sustainable.

‘Funding is needed to support the purchase of gas that can be delivered rapidly. There is also a need to repair damaged infrastructure and procure spare parts,’ said Mr Eide.

Ukraine views Norway as a reliable partner in the energy sector. The support provided by Norway for the purchase of gas and equipment will help to increase energy security this winter and maintain energy production.

The funding from Norway will be channelled through established partners such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Energy Community, a European organisation that seeks to extend the EU internal energy market to third countries such as Ukraine. Norway’s support is coordinated with other key donors.

Ukraine’s budget deficit in 2025 has been covered in part by a loan to be repaid with proceeds from immobilised Russian assets. The budget support provided by Norway to the Ukrainian government administration will help to alleviate the situation until the loan mechanism agreed by the EU member states in December is in place.

The Norwegian funding will be channelled through the World Bank’s multi-donor trust fund for Ukraine and will be used to pay salaries for teachers, healthcare personnel and public sector employees as well as pensions and social benefits.