Ukraine receives major weapons update from NATO ally

NATO member state Norway is now allowing Ukraine to make direct purchases from Norwegian arms manufacturers.

The Norwegian government said in a release on Monday that the policy change, made in response to Russia’s nearly two-year “war of aggression” in Ukraine, would be effective immediately. Norway’s larger arms export policies are expected to remain unchanged, while licenses allowing the export of arms to Ukraine will only be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Ukraine has heavily relied on foreign weapons and military aid since the war began with Russia invading its territory on February 24, 2022.

“In the extraordinary security situation resulting from Russia’s war of aggression, it is crucial that we continue to support Ukraine,” said Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. “Support for Ukraine is important for Norwegian and European security.”

“We must plan for the possibility that the illegal war of aggression may be prolonged,” he continued. “The Government has therefore decided to permit direct sales of weapons and defense-related products from Norwegian defense industry to Ukraine.”

Newsweek reached out for comment Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs via email on Tuesday evening.

The Norwegian government donated more than $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine during 2023. The release on Monday pledged that the government would continue to directly “provide significant military support to Ukraine.”

Norway is also one of four European NATO allies—alongside Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium—that have pledged to collectively provide Kyiv with dozens of F-16 fighter jets.

During a summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Nordic leaders last month, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said that “financial and humanitarian support” to Ukraine was increasing by around $800 million in 2023, part of a five-year, $6.8 billion aid package that was approved in February.

Norway has donated the fourth largest amount of military aid to Ukraine during its war with Russia, trailing only the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

The U.S. has been the largest donor of military aid to Ukraine by far, having provided over $79 billion since the war began with Russia’s invasion on February 24, 2022.

Over $60 billion in potential additional aid, requested by President Joe Biden, remains held up in Congress due in part to unrelated partisan disputes over U.S.-Mexico border security.

Last week, the Biden administration announced that it was sending Ukraine its final aid package of 2023, amounting to $250 million worth of missiles, artillery rounds, ammunition and other types of military equipment and supplies.

In addition U.S. aid drying up, Ukraine learned last month that a European Union (EU) plan to give the country $54 billion in military aid had been vetoed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

However, Orbán, an ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin, has signaled that he may allow the EU aid to be sent if Hungary is exempted from participating. Other EU leaders have indicated that they expect the package to be approved early this year.