President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine held a significant meeting with Norway's newly appointed Defense Minister, Tore Onshuus Sandvik, who visited Ukraine for the first time since his appointment in February.

The President expressed gratitude to the Norwegian government for its substantial military aid, which has reached $7 billion this year, and emphasized Ukraine's hope for maintaining such support in the next year.

A key topic of discussion was how to utilize these funds most effectively to bolster Ukraine's defense capabilities in the fight against Russian aggression.

“We also talked with the Prime Minister about enhancing our domestic production capabilities for long-range strike systems. I am pleased to note that he supported this idea and suggested discussing it in more detail with you,” President Zelensky stated.

During the meeting, they discussed investments in the production of Ukrainian weapons, including drones and long-range missiles, as well as scaling up joint defense production.

Other critical issues included strengthening air defense systems and enhancing combat aviation. The President thanked Norway for providing F-16 fighters and emphasized the importance of supplying NASAMS systems and their missiles to protect civilian infrastructure.

Moreover, Zelensky expressed appreciation to Norway for its energy support during the winter and for funding the purchase of imported gas.

The Norwegian Defense Minister assured continued support for Ukraine and stressed the importance of developing the defense capabilities of both nations.