It’s official: Norway is sending weapons to Ukraine

“The government has this afternoon decided that Norway will offer Ukraine arms support to defend the land against the military aggression from Russia. We are thus on the same line as close allies and the other Nordic countries. Norway has a restrictive practice for the export of military equipment, but Ukraine is now in an extraordinary situation,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (AP) noted in a press release on Monday night.

The decision was made after a number of other countries decided to send weapons to Ukraine, including Finland, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands.

“A contribution to support Ukraine”

In Norway, there has been a ban on the export of weapons to countries at war or at the brink of war since 1959. The government is now moving away from that practice. The government has a majority in the Norwegian parliament (Storting) that is in favor of sending weapons to Ukraine.

Like other countries, Norway has received an overview of military equipment that Ukraine needs, the government wrote in the press release.

“This is a contribution to support Ukraine in their defense against the military invasion. These are weapons that are easy to use, and used to defend against attacking armored vehicles. The Armed Forces are now working to prepare and send the equipment as quickly as possible,” Minister of Defense Odd Roger Enoksen (SP) stated.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has been clear that the country needs military support in the form of weapons and ammunition.

Donation 

Earlier, the government decided to send so-called military b-equipment to Ukraine, such as helmets and vests. Other countries, on the other hand, support Ukraine with ammunition and weapons produced in Norway.

The government emphasized that this is not a commercial export of weapons but a donation from one state to another and that it had spoken to the Storting before the decision was made.

“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine requires that we allow for very special decisions and measures,” Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt (AP) said.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

Do you have a news tip for Norway Today? We want to hear it. Get in touch at [email protected]