Zelenskyj welcoming Støre outside of the president office.
President Zelenskyj welcoming Prime Minister Støre. Credit: Oleksandr Techynskyi / Norwegian Embassy in Kyiv

‘A full-scale war is ongoing in Europe. Over the past six months, Russia has intensified its drone and missile attacks against Ukraine. At this critical time for Ukraine, it is important to reaffirm our continued support for Ukraine as it fights to defend itself. Norway is also supporting President Trump’s initiative to launch a peace process and the efforts to establish security guarantees. We must keep up and increase the pressure on Russia,’ said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Prime Minister Støre is visiting Ukraine at the invitation of President Zelensky.

Prime Minister Støre arriving by train in Kyiv.
Prime Minister Støre at the train station in Kyiv. Credit: Anne Kristin Hjukse / Office of the Prime Minister

The Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine

During his visit to Kyiv, Prime Minister Støre announced that the Norwegian Government will be proposing that Norway maintains its extraordinary support to Ukraine under the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine next year as well.

It is now three and a half years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, after having annexed Crimea and parts of the Donbas region in 2014.

‘Russia started this war and can choose to end it at any time. Russia can decide to stop the drone and missile strikes and withdraw its forces from Ukraine. The situation for Ukrainians in the occupied areas is deeply worrying. Tens of thousands of civilians are being illegally held captive by Russia and must be released immediately,’ said Prime Minister Støre.

Støre and Zelenskyj at the joint press conference
Joint press conference in Kyiv. Credit: Heiko Junge / NTB / POOL

Deadly attack

The Ukrainian people have endured enormous suffering since the war began. While he was in Kyiv, Prime Minister Støre visited an area that was subject to the deadliest attack in Ukraine this year. Twenty-eight people were killed, including three children, and 21 injured when a nine-storey apartment building collapsed following a Russian strike in the early hours of 31 July.

‘Innocent people lost their lives here when the Russian regime bombed their homes. My thoughts go to all those who lost loved ones that night and all the other nights when the Ukrainian people have come under attack from Russia. The suffering must end,’ said Prime Minister Støre.

Prime Minister Støre walking among ruins in Kyiv.
A nine-storey apartment building collapsed following a Russian strike in the early hours of 31 July. Credit: Heiko Junge / NTB

Deported children

According to UN reports, thousands of children have been forcibly deported from Ukraine to Russia since Russia started its war of aggression. Through UNICEF, Norway has supported the establishment of a reception centre in Ukraine for children who have returned to their home country. UNICEF and the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine are now working together to establish a database to trace and facilitate the return and reintegration of Ukrainian children. The database will play an important role in the ongoing efforts to reintegrate Ukrainian children.

Prime Minister Støre also visited a reception centre for children who have returned to Ukraine after having been forcibly held in Russia.

‘The visit to the reception centre made a deep impression on me. Norway will do its part to ensure that the Ukrainian children are able to return to their home country and be reunited with their families,’ said Mr Støre.

Norwegian Embassy staff

Prime Minister Støre also visited the Norwegian Embassy in Kyiv.

‘I thanked the staff for the work they are doing in Ukraine on behalf of Norway under very challenging circumstances. The war affects the lives of all our Ukrainian staff members and places an extra strain on our posted employees and their families back home in Norway. Ukraine’s fight is our fight,’ said Prime Minister Støre.