Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj made a quick trip to Gardermoen on Wednesday to meet Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The first lady will remain in Norway.

in

NTB

Shortly after Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska landed on Norwegian soil, the government announced that Norway would support Ukraine with 1.5 billion kroner for gas purchases to secure electricity and heating in Ukraine this winter.

The contribution is part of the Nansen Program for Ukraine, and comes in addition to previous support for gas purchases in 2025. With this, Norway has supported Ukraine with a total of NOK 6.1 billion for gas imports since 2022, according to the government.

– Good compromise

Zelenskyy thanked for the support when he met with the press together with Støre.

– I am grateful to be here. Thank you to both you and the Norwegian people, he said.

Also the US's efforts to stop the war are a topic.

Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump at the White House last week. On Sunday evening, Trump said that the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine should be divided between Russia and Ukraine along the front line. The countries would then have to negotiate a final solution.

– I think it's a good compromise, but I'm not sure if Putin will support it. I told the president that, Zelensky said at Gardermoen, referring to President Trump.

– The US is increasing its efforts

Trump's position that the current front lines in Ukraine should be the starting point for peace negotiations was supported on Tuesday by the EU, Ukraine, Norway and a number of other countries.

Støre believes the United States has now increased its efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

– My impression is, if I were to interpret it as I see it now, that the Americans are spending more energy on finding a way out of this war, said Støre.

He pointed out that both President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are involved.

Støre emphasized the importance of the United States and European countries working together.

Discussing use of Russian frozen funds

He believes that pressure on Russia must be increased.

– One of the topics being discussed in European circles is the Russian funds that are frozen in Western Europe and whether they can be made available to Ukraine and its defense efforts, said Støre.

He believes it will be an important topic during Thursday's EU summit. On Friday, Støre will also participate in a meeting of the coalition group for support for Ukraine.

– There is now close contact between European leaders who are working together for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, says Støre in a press release.

At the meeting on Wednesday, Støre also presented the plan for Norway's support for Ukraine in 2026.

The government has proposed an allocation of NOK 85 billion. If the Storting adopts the government's budget proposal, it will increase the framework for Norway's support to Ukraine to NOK 275 billion. Støre says he expects broad agreement on the support.

Zelenska remains in Norway

Later Wednesday, Zelensky will travel to Sweden to meet with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

– The talks will be about Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the bilateral defense cooperation between Sweden and Ukraine, the Swedish government writes in a press release.

However, First Lady Olena Zelenska will remain in Norway to have her own program in Norway together with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha.