Nordic nations vow to back Ukraine ‘as long as it takes’ during Zelenskiy visit
2023.12.13 12:14
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy speaks during a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 12, 2023. REUTERS/Leah Millis/ FILE PHOTO
OSLO (Reuters) – The five Nordic nations told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during talks in Oslo on Wednesday that they would support his country “for as long as it takes” in its struggle to drive out Russian forces.
Zelenskiy made his surprise visit to the Norwegian capital after meeting U.S. President Joe Biden and American lawmakers in Washington on Tuesday to plead for more military aid in the face of scepticism from key U.S. Republicans.
Together, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland have provided aid to Ukraine worth some 11 billion euros since Russia invaded in Feb. 2022 and are ready to continue giving extensive military, economic and humanitarian support, the five nations said in a joint statement.
“The Nordic countries will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes… Russia must end its aggression and withdraw its forces immediately and unconditionally from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders,” it said.
Separately, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her government would present a new support package for Ukraine worth 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion) to parliament this week.
Four of the five Nordic nations are members of NATO, and Sweden is waiting for its application to join to be approved by all 31 member states.
Zelenskiy earlier stressed the importance of bolstering Ukraine’s air defences, after Russia struck the Ukrainian capital Kyiv with ballistic missiles overnight in the second such attack so far this week.
“Today we talked, and will talk, about such specific things that can save thousands and thousands of Ukrainian lives, as well as increasing pressure on the aggressor,” he told a joint news conference with Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere.
Stoere said Norway would donate 3 billion crowns ($273 million) to Ukraine, part of a package approved previously by Norway’s parliament, of 75 billion crowns over five years.
“We are providing targeted, long-term support to assist Ukraine in its battle for freedom and democracy,” Stoere said in a statement.
