The Prime Minister's statement at the press conference with president Zelenskyj

Checked against delivery

Thank you, Mr. President, thank you – Vladimir,

Let me first say that this is the first time I've had the opportunity to stay an extra day here. I was here yesterday with my Nordic and Baltic and European colleagues. And for me, it was an important decision to spend one day on what I would call bilateral matters between Norway and Ukraine.

Speaking as Prime Minister of Norway, I am in the position to transmit to you, Mr. President, and to the Ukrainian press, the expression of solidarity, support, and sympathy from the people of Norway. And I can do so because a unanimous parliament in my country, all political parties, stand behind what we do in relation to Ukraine. There is no party on the outside. We are all together. We reflect, I think, the support from the people of Norway to the struggle you are in.

And you are right; we made a historic decision in February 2022 to actively support the defense of another country being attacked. And since then, we have been able to support you along the lines that a small country like Norway can do.

We have donated from our own stocks. But this relationship has evolved into something new and significant. We are today an important supporter of what you need the most – air defense. We will do whatever we can to strengthen that. – Drone capacity production, long-range artillery, and also equipment and capacity in the maritime field. Norway is a maritime nation.

So, the total support for 2026 amounts to close to 8 billion USD (NOK 85 mrd.). I think it will represent about 20 percent of the support that Ukraine will receive this year. And we're trying to focus all that as much as we can in accordance with the needs of Ukraine.

Now, what we experience is that Ukraine's own development of its industry, based on the experiences you make in the field, is highly relevant for your partners to learn from. So today, the President and I have agreed to establish what we call a strategic partnership between Norway and Ukraine that we will develop together within different areas where it can be of mutual benefit.

You mentioned, Mr. President, the energy field. Norway is an energy nation. Ukraine is an energy nation. Your Minister of Energy showed colleagues yesterday how your energy infrastructure is being hit by the terror bombing from Russia. We do what we can to support your rebuilding. We also support the purchase of gas to provide gas to Ukrainian households and industry. And since 2022, more than 1.7 billion USD (NOK 16,5 mrd.) have been provided to investments in repairing and decentralizing the energy sector, as well as energy efficiency and nuclear safety.

Then – I will say that I always tell people in Norway that nobody wants peace in Ukraine more than Ukrainians. And our message is that there can be no peace for Ukraine without Ukraine at the table – and in a position to make free decisions.

We support your efforts – with your diplomats – to reach agreements that you can defend and that you can stand for – in line with being a democracy in Europe, with your integrity. And you can count on us being there with you.

Again, this is a partnership which we’ve developed over time. I think we have more than 100,000 people from Ukraine living in Norway. They make an impression on us. They contribute to our economy. And I hope one day that they will be able to say that they can go back to Ukraine and contribute to the further development of Ukraine.

Thank you.