– Every bit of Europe must be defended, said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj at the Nordic summit in Helsinki this afternoon. It is Finland’s president Sauli Niinistö who has invited the Nordic countries and Ukraine to the summit. Zelenskyj began by thanking for the military and financial support from the Nordic countries. – The Norwegian financial support shows the world what it means to value peace, he told Jonas Gahr Støre. When it is Støre’s turn to speak, he starts by calling Zelenskyj’s visit moving and historic. Secondly, he says: – Then this war must end – and it is the attacker who must end it. – And when peace comes, it must be on the terms of the country that has been attacked, he adds. The most important thing is to be a stable support – Today we will update how each country can help Ukraine. For Norway, it is about clarifications in the Nansen programme, where we have committed ourselves to give 75 billion over five years, says Støre to news before the press conference. When asked if it would be appropriate to extend the support, he replies: – The important thing, according to Zelenskyj, is that we stand by them over time. We have committed ourselves in the Storting to support Ukraine for five years. It is a signal that Norwegian democracy can be proud of. Jonas Gahr Støre and Volodymyr Zelenskyj will, among other things, talk about further support for Ukraine. Photo: NTB Otherwise, Støre and Zelenskyj will follow up on the conversations they have had over the past year. An important contribution from Norway is air defence. – It helps to save lives in Ukrainian cities every week, says Støre The Heads of State will also hear how Ukraine envisions the fight ahead and their view of the situation. It is expected that the Nordic countries will make a joint statement at the press conference at 17 today. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is in place in Finland, together with the heads of state in Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland and Ukraine. Photo: NTB Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is also clear in the country’s support for Ukraine. – We support Ukraine’s struggle for freedom, as long as it lasts. We will not back down on our promise to help Ukraine, says Frederiksen. Støre said earlier this year that Norway wants to step up support for Ukraine. – Last year we gave over NOK 10 billion in civil and military support to Ukraine. We are now stepping up this support, said Støre. Iceland’s Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir is also at the summit. Secret The details of the president’s visit to Finland have been secret. Zelenskyj has considerably limited his trips abroad after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. He has previously visited Poland, France, Belgium, Great Britain and the USA. news met Zelenskyj together with other journalists at the end of April. Photo: Gunnar Bratthammer / news Last week, the Ukrainian president met a small group of journalists from the Nordic countries. There he was clear that Nordic support is decisive in the war. When asked by news if he thinks Norway has a special responsibility to support Ukraine because Norway has spent a lot of money on high energy prices as a result of the war, Zelenskyj answered as follows: – It is very difficult to say. I don’t think that way. Norway supports our position, supports with weapons and with money. If the country has ignited more, then they have done it. It also makes it possible to support us more. I am very grateful for the Norwegian support. Ukraine wants to join NATO. The picture is from a press conference in Kyiv on 20 April. Photo: DIMITAR DILKOFF / AFP He said this to news about possible NATO membership: – This is a joint decision in NATO. I believe that if the decision on membership depended on Stoltenberg alone, Ukraine would be in NATO. The war in Ukraine has had consequences for the Nordic countries. On 4 April this year, Finland formally became a member of NATO. news was also able to report that behind the scenes at the NATO summit in April, efforts were being made to get Ukraine into the defense alliance.
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– Every bit of Europe must be defended – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
