United to win: Norway to increase military aid to Ukraine by over $238 mln in 2023
The Norwegian government will increase the size of the military aid fund to Ukraine by NOK 2.5 billion ($238.6 million) this year.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced that its total value would increase to 10 billion ($960 million), Rubryka reports,
The increase in military aid will occur within the five-year Nansen program, the total amount of which is 75 billion kroner ($7.1 billion).
The prime minister said that Norway previously agreed to provide NOK15 billion for civil and military support in 2023 within the framework of the program, but the country's government decided to use an additional 2.5 billion Norwegian kroner in 2023, as Ukraine now needs additional support.
Norway undertook to increase its own contribution to the NATO support fund for Ukraine. "Norway is increasing its contribution to NATO's Comprehensive Assistance Package. Norway will provide NOK 300 million in funding in 2023 and a total of NOK 1.5 billion over the five-year period," Støre said.
A Rubryka reported, in June, Norway and Denmark agreed to provide the Armed Forces of Ukraine with 9,000 artillery shells. The total number of artillery shells allocated to the Armed Forces was 27,000. These munitions can be used in several types of artillery, including the M109 self-propelled guns previously provided by Norway.