Norway extends humanitarian aid to Ukraine

• The total aid package will rise to 135 billion kroner, up from the previous 75 billion kroner set to last until 2027.
• The increased aid package requires support from the opposition.
• Norway, a major gas and oil exporter, has benefited from the price surge triggered by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Norway will increase its civilian aid to Ukraine by five billion kroner ($475 million) this year and extend the aid package by three years, through 2030, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced Friday. This extension raises the total aid package to 135 billion kroner, up from the previous 75 billion kroner set to last until 2027.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced that Norway had already pledged 22 billion kroner in military and civilian aid for this year, with an additional five billion kroner allocated for “important civilian needs.” He shared this update with journalists after meeting with parliamentary leaders.

“We are living through a very dangerous situation in Europe,” Store said.

To pass the increased aid package through parliament, Prime Minister Støre’s center-left minority government will need support from the opposition, which has largely endorsed providing more assistance to Ukraine. As a major gas and oil exporter, Norway has benefited from the price surge triggered by Russia’s war in Ukraine.

A finance ministry document obtained by AFP on Thursday reveals that Germany plans to boost its military aid to Ukraine by nearly 400 million euros ($445 million) this year, in addition to the 7.5 billion euros it had already allocated.