Norway and Ukraine agree on security assurances
Press release | Date: 15/04/2024 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Norway and Ukraine have concluded negotiations on a bilateral agreement on security assurances. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide announced the conclusion of the negotiations after his meeting with President Zelensky in Kyiv today.
‘Norway will be providing long-term military, political, financial, and humanitarian support to Ukraine. The security agreement reaffirms Norway’s close security policy cooperation with Ukraine. The agreement demonstrates our clear political commitment to continue to stand by Ukraine, as we have done since Russia's brutal, full-scale attack over two years ago,’ said Mr Eide.
Ukraine has signed similar security agreements with a number of NATO allies. These are bilateral agreements initiated by the G7 countries in connection with the NATO Summit in Vilnius in the summer of 2023.
The agreements are intended to support Ukraine’s efforts towards becoming a country committed to the common values of democracy, the rule of law, good governance, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, with a with a firm foundation in the Euro-Atlantic security community. Ukraine needs support to be able to defend itself against Russian aggression and to deter Russian aggression in the future.
Norway's agreement with Ukraine builds on existing support for Ukraine on its path towards integration in the Euro-Atlantic community.
‘This agreement provides concrete assurance to Ukraine that it can count on Norway’s support over time,’ said the Foreign Minister.
The security agreement will be signed by Prime Minister Støre and President Zelensky the next time they meet and will be made public following that meeting.
Norway provides significant support to Ukraine. In the winter of 2023, the Storting (Norwegian parliament) unanimously agreed to establish the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, which will provide NOK 75 billion in military, and civilian aid to Ukraine over a period of five years. Last year, Norway provided NOK 19.9 billion in assistance to Ukraine, of which NOK 11 billion went to military aid.
Read more about Norwegian support to Ukraine here: