Norway pledges €1bn to support Ukraine

Local resident sits down on a bench next to an apartment that was damaged in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. This incident occurred in the Luhansk Region of Ukraine, 1 July, 2022.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere addressed a news conference in Kyiv with Volodymyr Zelenskiy the Ukrainian President. He stated that Norway wants to show solidarity with Ukraine's struggle for survival.

"I am here to tell you that Ukraine's fight for independence is not just for Ukraine. It is about the fundamental principles of the world that we will offer our children. He said that this was about European security, but also about the fates of our neighbours.

He said: "We will promise €1bn to support your country and your citizens for the remainder of 2022 and 2023. This war is against international law. ... You have the legal right to defend yourself, and we have the right help you defend yourselves."

When asked if Norway would increase its gas supply to Europe, Stoere replied that Norway is already producing gas at its maximum but would do all it could to continue to produce gas.

Zelenskiy stated that Russia must be under pressure to end the war.

According to him, Russia used a Soviet-era Kh-22 missile to strike aircraft carriers and other large objects. This was a reference to the strike on Friday morning at an apartment block in Odesa. Officials from Ukraine claim that at least 16 people were injured.

Russia denies targeting civilians. When asked Friday if Russia had attacked the apartment building in Serhiivka's resort village, a Kremlin spokesperson said that Russia has not targeted civilian targets.

($1 = €0.9630)

Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic, Belgrade, and Pavel Polityuk, Kyiv; Writing and Editing by Alexander Winning; Editing and Design by Andrew Heavens & David Gregorio

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