President Volodymyr Zelensky met Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo on Tuesday, Sept. 8, for talks focused on strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses, securing interceptor missiles, advancing the FREYJA anti-ballistic program, and preparing Ukraine for winter.
“I had a good meeting with the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre,” Zelensky wrote on X after the talks.
He said the two discussed Ukraine’s air-defense needs, interceptor missiles, and further work on FREYJA as Russia intensifies missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.
Zelensky also expressed condolences over the death of King Harald V and thanked Norway’s royal family and people for their support for Ukraine.
Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrived in Norway earlier on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s farewell ceremony for the late monarch.
Hours before Zelensky’s arrival, Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on Kyiv, killing five people and injuring 35. Residential buildings, a school, clinic, dormitory, and warehouses were among the sites damaged.
“Our priority right now is the winter package,” Zelensky said. “The main issue is strengthening air defense and assistance in other areas important for getting through the winter.”
The Norwegian prime minister warned that intensified Russian missile and drone attacks on homes and critical infrastructure were making the coming winter especially difficult for Ukraine.
“Ukraine faces a harsh winter,” he said, adding that Norway would continue standing with Ukrainians.
Air defense and winter resilience
Protecting Ukraine’s skies and critical infrastructure is increasingly urgent as Kyiv prepares for its fifth winter since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Moscow has repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s power generation, transmission, and heating infrastructure during the colder months, seeking to deprive civilians of electricity and heat.
Norway has emerged as one of Ukraine’s most significant European supporters. Oslo allocated NOK 85 billion ($9.2 billion) to Ukraine under the Nansen Support Program for 2026, including NOK 70 billion ($7.6 billion) in military assistance and NOK 15 billion ($1.6 billion) in civilian and humanitarian aid.
Norway has also proposed maintaining the same NOK 85 billion ($9.2 billion) level of assistance in 2027, with most expected to go toward military support.
Building on the Drone Deal and Ellisiv Accord
The Oslo talks build on an expansion of Ukrainian-Norwegian defense cooperation agreed less than three weeks ago.
During Støre’s visit to Kyiv on Aug. 23, the two leaders signed an Agreement on Defense and Security Cooperation under the Drone Deal format and a declaration establishing the Ellisiv Accord strategic partnership.
The Drone Deal aims to combine Ukraine’s battlefield experience and defense technologies with Norwegian investment and industrial capacity, expanding joint production and technology sharing.
Norway has also committed NOK 1.2 billion ($130 million) to the development and procurement of maritime drones produced by Norwegian and Ukrainian companies.
FREYJA anti-ballistic defense
During their meeting in Oslo, Zelensky and Støre also joined European defense industry representatives for talks on accelerating anti-ballistic missile defense capabilities.
The discussions centered on closer European industrial cooperation to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian ballistic missiles.
The push comes as Ukraine presses allies for more Patriot interceptors. Contracts are already in place for roughly 1,000 Patriot missiles backed by allied funding, but most are expected to arrive only in future years, leaving an urgent capability gap ahead of winter.
Germany announced additional Patriot interceptors for Ukraine on Tuesday, while the UK unveiled a £100 million ($135 million) winter air-defense package through NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL).
On Wednesday, Sept. 9, Zelensky and Zelenska are expected to attend the funeral of King Harald V, who died on Aug. 28 at age 89.