President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Norway for talks with Prime Minister Jonas Gar Støre. The two sides plan to discuss further military support, the strengthening of air defences and Ukraine’s preparations for the winter. The programme also includes a meeting with representatives of companies involved in the development of the FREYJA anti-ballistic missile system.
Briefly about the main points
- Air defence and military support will be the central topics of the talks.
- The parties will meet with the companies developing the FREYJA system.
- Norway has allocated a further 3 billion kroner to Ukraine’s air defence.
- In 2026, Oslo plans to provide Ukraine with 85 billion kroner.
- Winter aid includes support for the Ukrainian power grid.
Protection against missiles and drones is at the top of the agenda
Ukraine needs further assistance to defend itself against Russian missile and drone attacks, said Zelensky. Particular attention will be paid to anti-ballistic capabilities during the talks.
Stere He also described Ukraine’s need for air defence systems and other military aid as critical. According to him, the parties will consider how Norwegian military and civilian support can best meet Ukraine’s current needs.
FREYJA is regarded as a separate anti-ballistic programme
Zelenskyy and Stere are planning a meeting with representatives of companies working on an anti-ballistic missile system FREYJA. Ukraine, together with its international partners, is developing capabilities to intercept ballistic targets in response to the growing nature of this threat.
FREYJA is intended to complement the existing air defence and missile defence architecture, rather than replace the current systems. According to the National Security and Defence Council, Ukraine is prepared to supply the interceptor missile, whilst its partners are to provide radars, sensors and other critical components.
Back in August, Zelenskyy and Stere had already discussed protection against Russian strikes and the implementation of the FREYJA programme. At the time, the President emphasised the need to develop defences for Ukrainians against missile attacks as quickly as possible.
What support has Norway already planned for Ukraine?
In July, the Norwegian Government announced an additional 3 billion Norwegian kroner to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence. Part of these funds is to be allocated, in particular, to missiles for the Patriot systems.
Oslo is also taking part in the programme PURL — a mechanism for coordinating the funding and supply of US weapons to Ukraine, including air defence systems. In 2026, Norway plans to provide Ukraine with 85 billion kroner: 70 billion for military aid and 15 billion for civilian aid. The priorities identified are drones, air defence systems and artillery ammunition.
Winter resilience and defence cooperation
Preparing for winter requires more than just military support. Due to Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the country needs civilian assistance to ensure the stable operation of its power grid. The Norwegian government has previously expressed its support for protecting infrastructure and restoring damaged energy facilities.
The visit is taking place on the eve of the funeral service for the King of Norway Harald V. At the same time, it continues to engage in active bilateral defence cooperation: on 23 August, Kyiv and Oslo signed a ‘Drone Deal’ agreement and a joint declaration on strategic partnership. The documents provide for the development of defence technologies, the exchange of expertise and cooperation in the fields of unmanned aerial vehicles and air defence.
