“Authors: Olena Galushka, member of the board of the Communist Party of Ukraine, co-founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory Viktoria Voytsytska – member of the NGO International Center for the Victory of Ukraine, head of the board of the National Educational Association The heads of government of the Nordic and Baltic countries promised to increase support for Ukraine on November 27.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Authors:
Olena Halushka, member of the board of the Communist Party of Ukraine, co-founder of the International Center for Ukrainian Victory
Victoria Voytsytska – member of the NGO International Victory Center of Ukraine, head of the board of the National Educational Association
The heads of governments of the Nordic-Baltic countries promised to increase support for Ukraine on November 27. As the largest per capita donors of military aid, they have confirmed their readiness to further strengthen their support by increasing funding in the coming months. In conditions of uncertainty regarding the future of American aid in 2025, such decisive support, expressed not only in words, but also in concrete actions, is key to building and strengthening the “coalition of the determined” – a group of countries that stand for the victory of Ukraine and are ready to contribute to it as much as possible achievement
A special example among this group of countries is Norway, because this country has a unique potential to provide significant aid to Ukraine without increasing the burden on the shoulders of its taxpayers or cutting social costs, which distinguishes the country from other partners.
Norway has a National Welfare Fund with assets of NOK 18.5 trillion ($1.7 trillion). According to estimates by experts and the Norwegian government, at least 1.2 trillion kroner ($110 billion) was earned in addition to the projected revenues in 2021-2023. due to a sharp rise in gas prices in Europe due to the Russian gas war, which began even before the full-scale invasion. In response, the European Union introduced the RePowerEU program, which provides for the replacement of Russian gas, including Norwegian gas.
Active debates are currently underway in Norway regarding increased support for Ukraine, but not everything is so simple.
Budgetary saga lasting a yearFrom the very beginning, Norway’s approach to supporting Ukraine was based on the principles of systematicity and long-term commitment. Of course, such predictability has great advantages, but it does not always take into account the urgency of the challenges facing Ukraine today. In 2023, Norway launched the Program named after Nansen, a long-term aid program for Ukraine with a budget of 75 billion kroner ($6.7 billion), which covers a wide range of support, namely military, humanitarian and budget aid, and does not include support for displaced persons.
Since the winter of 2024, largely due to the delay of US military aid, shelling of the energy industry and the worsening of the situation at the front, the Norwegian government has been under great pressure from the opposition and the public regarding the need to increase aid to Ukraine, and since the fall, Norway’s neighbors have also joined active advocacy, primarily Denmark and Sweden.
The Storting (Norway’s parliament) is now considering the government’s proposal to significantly increase the program to 130 billion kroner ($12.2 billion). However, at the same time, the government proposed to extend it until 2030, setting the annual lower guaranteed limit of support to Ukraine at the level of 15 billion kroner ($1.4 billion) with the possibility of an increase by separate additional decisions. So, for example, in 2024, the aid was also increased separately, twice, bringing the total amount to 27 billion crowns ($2.4 billion).
The opposition’s vision of supporting Ukraine is much more ambitious. The liberal Venstre party, which has been vocally advocating a significant increase in aid from the very beginning, proposed allocating 105 billion kroner ($9.5 billion) to Ukraine, while the Goire conservatives – 45 billion kroner ($4 billion). The expert community, former military personnel and scientists also demand an increase in assistance. For example, a recent appeal was signed by 110 opinion leaders. In private conversations, experts express confusion as to why aid has not been significantly increased so far, since Norway has both the resources and the public consensus.
During Prime Minister Støre’s meeting with the leaders of the parliamentary factions on November 26, the government proposed to raise aid to Ukraine for 2025 to at least 30 billion kroner ($2.7 billion), the leaders of the factions are now consulting.
We refute fears and explain the urgencyHowever, the Norwegian government still lacks an understanding of the seriousness of the challenges Ukraine is currently facing, as well as a sense of urgency to support Ukraine. The junior coalition partner of Prime Minister Støre’s Labor Party is the agrarian centrist party, for which Ukraine is not a priority.
Among the arguments against a significant increase in aid, the government cites concerns about corruption in Ukraine, fear of retaliation from Russia, and the fact that if Norway gives more, other countries will reduce their aid. They also worry that a precedent will be set for using the resources of the National Welfare Fund, which is a fund for future generations, for current needs.
All of them are easily disproved. We explain the progress of reforms after 2014, voicing what homework we have left. Anti-corruption institutions, as well as Ukrainian civil society and investigative journalists, continue their work even during a full-scale invasion. However, of course, the fewer reasons our state institutions and law enforcement agencies provide, the easier it will be to refute such arguments in the international arena, because the argument of corruption is important not only in Norway, but also in the USA, Germany, Denmark or Brussels.
Russia’s hybrid attacks on Europe began a long time ago, and Norway is no exception. Their intelligence has repeatedly recorded attempts at espionage, as well as violations by Russian drones of Norwegian airspace near critical infrastructure facilities. Like the other Nordic countries, Norway is also preparing for a possible war, having recently updated emergency instructions for civilians and adopting a long-term plan to invest 600 billion kroner ($56 billion) in its own defense over the next 12 years.
Aid from key partners is already beginning to be reduced regardless of the Norwegian government’s decisions. While countries like Denmark and Sweden are stepping up their support, the future amount of aid from key allies like the US and Germany remains uncertain. Moreover, there is no doubt that President Trump will insist on increasing the obligations of European countries. Thus, extending support to Ukraine can not only help Ukraine, but also contribute to strengthening Norway’s relations with the new administration in the White House.
As for the fund for future generations, of course the best investment for the Norwegian government now is not to pass this war on to its children.
The importance of supporting Ukraine for EuropeNorway has the technology and resources essential to our victory. For example, in August it became known that the production of 155-mm projectiles using the technology of the Norwegian company Nammo will be established in Ukraine, and this is not the only example. Norway’s help is critical in the area of defending the skies, as there is a Norwegian-American NAS AMS is an important element of our air defense shield.
The first step has been taken to support Ukrainian defense industries. The other day it was announced that Norway is allocating 500 million kroner ($45 million) from the 2024 budget. for the purchase of weapons from Ukrainian manufacturers for the needs of the Defense Forces of Ukraine within the framework of the so-called “Danish model”. This approach should be significantly expanded in 2025, because it will help to achieve two key goals at once: to provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the necessary military equipment and at the same time stimulate our economy.
Thus, in 2025, Norway can help Ukraine with the purchase of weapons from Ukrainian manufacturers, the production of air defense systems and shells, as well as the protection and restoration of critical energy infrastructure facilities.
On the part of Ukraine, it is necessary to pay priority attention to the development of relations with Norway. Despite the positive dynamics of cooperation with the Nordic countries, which has been observed recently, the absence of an ambassador to Norway for more than two years, as well as a military attache, causes concern. While the embassy team does important work, it is severely understaffed and the ambassador’s absence sends an unwanted signal at the highest political level. More contacts are needed at all levels, including parliamentary and cultural diplomacy, as well as facilitating the visits of Norwegian parliamentarians and officials to Ukraine so that they can see Russian aggression.
Today, Ukraine faces not only Russia, but also such countries as North Korea, Iran, and even China, which supplies Russia with military aid. We cannot single-handedly restrain the entire “coalition of tyranny”. For this, it is critically important to build a “coalition of the determined”, at the heart of which should naturally be the Nordic countries, in particular Norway, as a reliable and strategic partner of Ukraine.