During a joint press conference between the prime minister of Norway and the president of Ukraine, Jonas Gahr Store voiced the solidarity of his state to the people of Ukraine and expressed support for our struggle for our independence and integrity. The prime minister also briefly described the outline of a plan for reconstructing post-war Ukraine, which is being prepared for the upcoming conference in Lugano.
"I am delighted that Norway will also consider joining the rebuilding of our state after the war is over," Jonas Gahr Store.
The prime minister noted that Ukraine is fighting not only for its statehood but also for the fundamental principles of peace and humanity. Jonas Gahr Store stressed that Norway will support Ukraine until its victory.
"This war is a violation of international law and the basic principles that are written in it. You have the absolute right to protect yourself, and we have the right to help you protect yourself. And we will use this right," the prime minister.
As another support package from Norway, Jonas Gahr Store announced financial support for Ukrainians who became victims of the war.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on behalf of every Ukrainian, thanked Norway for its unwavering support in all areas available to it and necessary for us.
"This is a very significant aid – defense, political, humanitarian. I am also grateful for the new support package totaling 1 billion euros, which Norway has decided to provide to the Ukrainians. We appreciate it very much. In such a difficult time, real friends are next to us," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
After the press conference, Zelenskyy expressed to journalists his idea that Norway is not a member of the European Union but supported every package of sanctions and every sanction (unlike, for example, Hungary). With this sacrifice, Norway not only showed solidarity with Ukraine but also sent a powerful signal to the aggressor country and its collaborators: Ukraine is not alone.
"Sanctions are the price of a tragic and bloody war. And today, we discussed with Mr. Prime minister how we can further strengthen this process," the president of Ukraine.
Separately, Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the deliberate Russian shelling of civilian facilities in the Odessa region this morning. We remind you that today in the morning, Russia fired missiles at a high-rise building and a recreation center. Dozens of dead, dozens of wounded.
"This is not a single strike and not an accident, as the media of the Russian Federation say every day, but a targeted Russian missile terror against our cities and towns, our people. In just four months of a full-scale war, Russia has already used about 3.000 missiles against Ukraine. Such cruelty of Russian actions only emphasizes how correct the decisions of our partners to provide Ukraine with support, primarily defense. No state in the world should be left alone when there is such evil," Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The president said that in a private dialogue with Jonas Gahr Store, the topic of the defense of Ukraine, the defense of Ukrainians, was raised. Also, as it turned out, the prime minister visited the cities destroyed by the Russian occupation in the Chernihiv region and was horrified by what he saw.
"It is essential that the leaders of Europe see what is happening in Ukraine. And so that this truth is brought to Europe and the society is absolutely truthfully told what is happening in Ukraine, who is fighting here, how and what evil Russia has brought to our people," Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
