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Norway's parliament approved $8.2 billion in assistance to Ukraine for 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Thursday, marking one of the largest single-year aid commitments to the war-torn nation from a European partner.
The Storting, Norway's legislative body, passed the funding package as Ukraine continues to defend against Russian military operations that began in Feb. 2022. Zelenskyy disclosed the approval in a post on the social media platform X, expressing appreciation to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, parliament members, and the Norwegian people.
The Ukrainian president characterized the aid as evidence of Norway's sustained commitment to supporting Kyiv. Zelenskyy thanked Norway for "its long-term military and civilian support, which demonstrates true leadership, commitment, and strategic reliability."
The substantial funding package encompasses both military and civilian assistance, though specific allocations between defense equipment, humanitarian relief, and reconstruction efforts were not detailed in Zelenskyy's announcement.
Zelenskyy framed the Norwegian support as a strategic signal to Russian leadership that Western backing for Ukraine remains firm. The assistance would "strengthen Ukraine's ability to withstand Russian aggression," he said, adding that it serves as "a clear signal to Putin's regime" that Ukraine will continue receiving allied support.
The president employed stark language in describing the geopolitical implications of such commitments. "Each such act of support is a nail in the coffin of Russia's plans to drown Europe in fear and inaction," Zelenskyy stated.
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Norway, a major energy exporter that has benefited economically from elevated oil and gas prices since the war began, has positioned itself as a significant contributor to Ukraine's defense and recovery efforts. The Nordic nation is not a member of the European Union but maintains close ties with European institutions and has aligned its foreign policy with EU sanctions against Russia.
The 2026 aid package represents forward planning by Oslo, signaling multi-year commitment rather than year-to-year appropriations that can create uncertainty in recipient nations' strategic planning.
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