Norway More Than Doubles Ukraine Aid, Citing Most Serious Security Threat in 80 Years

Norway will more than double its financial support for Ukraine this year while also increasing its own defense spending, the prime minister announced on March 6, calling the current security situation the most serious the country has faced in 80 years.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced that the government and opposition leaders had agreed to increase this year’s funding for Ukraine to 85 billion Norwegian crowns ($7.83 billion), up from the 35 billion crowns ($3.23 billion) planned in November.

The Nordic nation now faces “the most serious security situation for our country since World War II,” Støre said.

Norway’s opposition Conservative Party backed the increase and stated that further increases could be considered later this year.

The decision to increase Norway’s support for Ukraine comes on the same day that the European Union leaders approved the European Commission’s plan to strengthen the region’s defense capabilities, which includes an additional €800 billion in funding.

This decision comes following U.S. President Donald Trump halting military aid to Ukraine and the U.S. temporarily suspending intelligence sharing with Kyiv.