Translated with AI
Norway is providing Ukraine with an emergency aid package worth €340 million. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide announced this during a visit to Kyiv on Monday, January 12. The funds will be used to support Ukraine's energy sector, as well as to ensure the operation of public services and critical social programs, including the payment of wages, pensions, and social assistance, according to Norwegian media outlet NRK.
As specified in a Norwegian government press release issued on the day of the visit, the funds will help the Ukrainian government provide basic services to citizens, including the functioning of energy infrastructure, the payment of salaries to teachers, healthcare workers, and civil servants, as well as the funding of pensions and social assistance. These areas, according to Norwegian authorities, are a priority for assistance to Ukraine, and Kyiv had previously requested support from Oslo specifically in these areas.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized that "civilian assistance from Norway and the international community is necessary to ensure that Ukrainian society can maintain basic services for the population, such as energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and education."
During his visit to Kyiv, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide noted that Ukrainian infrastructure is being subjected to numerous attacks, which is affecting ordinary citizens, even those far from the combat zone. "Ordinary people are feeling the effects of the power outages. They're doing an incredibly good job of restoring power, but they need help to do so," the Norwegian minister emphasized.
On the Ukrainian side, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha noted the importance of the allied relations between Ukraine and Norway. He announced on his social media account X that his meeting with Espen Barth Eide would focus on mutually beneficial cooperation, efforts to achieve peace in the wake of Russia's war against Ukraine, and strengthening the country's defense capability and resilience.
This assistance, according to Norwegian authorities, is aimed at stabilizing vital areas in Ukraine and maintaining the normal functioning of state institutions in the context of military conflict.
