Norway allocates $400M to support Ukraine

Norway is providing a $400 million support package for Ukraine, with half of the funds directed toward winter assistance and the other half toward budget support.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide announced this at a joint briefing with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha in Kyiv on Monday, Ukrinform reports.

"I also want to confirm that we are today announcing a new support package for immediate release, $400 million, $200 million of which will go to immediate energy needs, gas purchase and other immediate energy repair issues, so that the heat can be on and the electricity can be on as much as possible," Eide said.

He added that the remaining $200 million will be allocated for Ukraine's budget support.

According to Eide, this macro-financial assistance will serve as a "bridge" until the funds promised by the European Union reach Ukraine.

The foreign minister also noted that during his visit to Kyiv, he met with representatives of leading defense companies.

"We have an increasingly close partnership between the leading Norwegian companies and leading Ukrainian companies in developing air defense systems, making sure that you have a better access to effective and less expensive and higher volumes of interceptors of missiles, but also to the development of advanced long-range weapons, which is extremely useful and necessary right now," Eide said.

Eide arrived in Kyiv on Monday, January 12, for an official visit.

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