GARDERMOEN (Dagbladet): On Wednesday morning, Volodymyr Zelenskyy landed at the military section of Gardermoen Airport. There he met with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap).
"Norway's support for Ukraine is strong and continues. It is crucial to have close dialogue with Ukrainian authorities so that the support meets the needs on the ground," says Støre in a press release.
The Ukrainian president is accompanied by his wife, First Lady Olena Zelenska, and Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha, who will remain in Oslo for a few days.
Norway is contributing an additional 1.5 billion kroner to secure gas, electricity and heat for Ukraine, says Støre in a press release from the government.
"Ukraine is facing another challenging winter and the supply of electricity is unstable. Together with the EU, we are further stepping up efforts to ensure that Ukrainian households, businesses and institutions have access to energy. This is important for the individual Ukrainian and for keeping society running," says the Prime Minister.
47 minutes on Norwegian soil
Støre tells the assembled press that he is impressed by the will and determination of the Ukrainians. The Prime Minister explains Norway's support for Ukraine.
- We plan to use the support to help Ukraine with their needs, says Støre.
"This war should end. We want negotiations that lead to a lasting peace," says the Prime Minister.
Ukraine's head of state thanks Støre for his support.
- We are grateful and happy to be here - and for the support from the Norwegian people, says Zelenskyj.
"Russia attacks us every day. We defend ourselves with air defense, helicopters and F-16s, but it is never enough. We are grateful for their support. Russia does not stop, so we must work together, all of us - to pressure Putin," Zelensky said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyj was on Norwegian soil for a total of 47 minutes.
- Huge defeat for Putin
Støre stayed to speak to the press after the Ukrainian president left.
- Unfortunately, our meetings almost always begin with offering condolences for last night's attack. He repeats every time that the support coming from Norway saves lives, he says.
The Prime Minister will be asked several questions about Russia.
"I think Russia is far more affected by this war than its leaders say. That applies both economically and to the enormous losses. This war is a huge defeat for Putin," he says.
- It is an authoritarian regime with enormous political control over opinion formation, he adds.
Støre believes the United States and President Trump have now turned their focus to Ukraine to bring an end to the war.
- My impression is, if I were to interpret it as I see it now, that the Americans are spending more energy on finding a way out of this war.
He pointed out that both President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are involved.
Will present news
Later on Wednesday, Zelensky will visit Sweden, where he will meet with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
According to a press release from the Swedish government, the talks will be about Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the bilateral defense cooperation between Sweden and Ukraine.
The two will also visit the fighter aircraft manufacturer Saab in Linköping. Among other things, the Jas 39 Gripen aircraft is produced there. After the meeting, the two leaders will hold a joint press conference where they will present a news item about Swedish defense exports.
Intense meeting
Just hours before the Ukrainian delegation landed in Norway, it became known that the planned meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Budapest probably won't happen after all.
It was in Budapest that Russia in 1994 promised to respect Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and borders, in exchange for Ukraine giving up Soviet nuclear warheads that remained in the country after the dissolution of the Soviet Union three years earlier.
"I haven't made a decision yet about the meeting with Putin. I'm not interested in a wasted meeting. I don't want to waste time, so we'll see what happens," Trump told reporters Tuesday evening.
Before the weekend, the US president welcomed Zelenskyy to the White House. The Ukrainian desire for US Tomahawk missiles, which can reach targets deep inside Russia, was not fulfilled.
Behind closed doors, the meeting was reportedly intense. Financial Times sources describe loud exchanges. Trump reportedly swore the entire time and repeated Russian demands that Ukraine give up the entire Donbas region.
Better luck is expected in Sweden. It is not known what kind of export news will be announced at the press conference, but when asked by Sveriges Radio whether it is about the aforementioned Gripen aircraft, Kristersson answers:
- When it comes to aircraft capacity in the ongoing war, it is our radar reconnaissance aircraft that are the largest contribution. We will discuss a large possible Swedish export agreement.
Third visit after the full-scale invasion
Wednesday's short visit is the third time President Zelensky has been to Norway since Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
At the end of August, Støre visited Zelenskyj in Ukraine. He promised to continue the support to Ukraine of 85 billion kronor.
Zelenskyj's last visit to Norway was in March, shortly after the Storting decided to increase aid to Ukraine from 35 to 85 billion.
He then had several meetings with Støre. Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, and Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik also participated in working meetings with Zelenskyy's delegation.
Before that, he met the Prime Minister and the leaders of the other Nordic countries at a summit in Oslo in December 2023. He also met the royal family at the palace, before addressing the members of parliament and government members in the Storting.
