Norway to contribute $43.7 million to UK's weapons procurement program for Ukraine

To help Ukrainian forces fight Russia, Norway has decided to contribute around 400 million crowns, which is about $43.7 million to UK's attempt to buy arms for Ukraine. Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated that y will recommend that 400 million Norwegian crowns be allocated to British-led system for acquisition of arms and military equipment for Ukraine. He also suggests that this financial assistance will provide Ukraine with equipment that Norwegian Armed Forces mselves do not have.

Prime Minister told parliament that Norway may also make ditional direct weaponry deliveries to Ukraine. Because supplies are not publicly dressed until weapons are in place for security reasons, Støre said nothing about what weapons Norway might provide in future. He furr said that y recall that Norway h previously decided to transfer Mistral anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has requested that Norway equip Ukraine with anti-ship missile systems and NASAMS systems.

Fight has entered a new phase: Norwegian Prime Minister

Støre said in statement that fight in Ukraine has entered a new phase, according to Aftenposten. He claimed that  Russian President Vlimir Putin is likely to try to reinforce Russia's ground presence in Ukraine's eastern and sourn regions, maybe all way to Odesa and Moldovan border in southwest, and that ending battle appears to be quite difficult at this point. He also said that evidence of significant war crimes, from Bucha in north to Mariupol in souast, is making maintaining communication with Russian President Vlimir Putin's regime increasingly difficult.

'Russia was unlikely to achieve its objectives during initial phase of war'

Norwegian Prime Minister acknowledged that war in Ukraine may continue to deteriorate but also pointed out weakness of Russian forces. He noted that Russia did not achieve its objectives during initial phase of war, stating y haven't taken Kyiv or deposed country's democratically elected government, according to Aftenposten. He also claimed that y have lost ir soldiers and equipment in large numbers and that  battle has exposed serious flaws in Russia's defence, including intelligence, cross-functional coordination, logistics, leership and motivation of Russian forces.