On Thursday, October 17, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha welcomed in Kyiv Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Barth Eide, who arrived in our country on a bilateral visit.

The Heads of Ukrainian and Norwegian diplomacy visited one of the destroyed thermal power plants in the Kyiv region, where they observed the consequences of Russian terror against the Ukrainian energy industry.

The Foreign Ministers also visited Vytachiv in the Kyiv region, whose history testifies to the close ties between Ukraine and Norway since the time of ancient Rus’.

Afterward, the diplomats held bilateral negotiations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

The Ministers confirmed the steadfast alliance of Ukraine and Norway, discussed the joint production of weapons, cooperation in the field of energy, the implementation of the Victory Plan and the Peace Formula of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The Head of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine expressed his deep gratitude to Norway for the comprehensive and permanent military, financial, and humanitarian assistance to our country. He emphasized the importance of Norway's recent decision to increase funding for the long-term support program for Ukraine, the Nansen Programme, up to 135 billion Norwegian kroner (about 11 billion euros).

Andrii Sybiha noted that Ukraine and Norway have great potential in the joint production of weapons and called on the Norwegian side to increase investments in Ukraine's defense and industrial complex.

"Now is the best time to invest in Ukrainian weapons, weapons of victory that prove their effectiveness on the battlefield daily. Such investments have a multiplier effect: they strengthen Ukraine's defense capability and economy at the same time. They are also the fastest and cheapest way to provide military aid to Ukrainian soldiers", the Minister noted.

Espen Barth Eide announced Norway's decision to provide Ukraine with a new package of energy aid to strengthen resilience during winter, totaling 250 million euros.

The Head of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine expressed deep gratitude to his Norwegian colleague, the government, and the people of Norway for this decision.

"Today, Mr. Eide and I visited one of the destroyed thermal power plants in the Kyiv region and had the opportunity to see with our own eyes what Ukraine is fighting against. The devastating consequences of Russian terror against the Ukrainian energy sector are shocking, this is a real terror. That is why it is such an important and timely decision to hand over a new package of energy assistance", the Minister emphasized.

Andrii Sybiha thanked Norway for consistently supporting efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace and noted that both countries share a realistic view of Russia.

"We know very well that Moscow does not believe in tears and persuasion. The Kremlin understands only the language of force. That is why the Victory Plan, which the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy is presenting today in Brussels, is realism. He came from the understanding that Russia should be forced into peace, not persuaded," the Minister said.

He added that the Allies are working together to consolidate the necessary political will to implement the Victory Plan, and emphasized that this will bring long-term security and peace to Ukraine, Norway, and Europe as a whole.

A special element of the visit was the presentation to a distinguished guest at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine of selected archival diplomatic documents of the era of the Ukrainian People's Republic, relating to bilateral relations between the two states, particularly the activities of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission in Norway.

Presenting the exhibition to his Norwegian colleague, Andrii Sybiha emphasized that diplomatic and friendly relations between Ukraine and Norway are based on close interpersonal and diplomatic contacts over the centuries.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is grateful to Head of the State Archival Service of Ukraine Anatolii Khromov. Director of the Central State Archive of Higher Authorities and Administration of Ukraine Larysa Levchenko and Director of the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine Yaroslav Fayzulin for the search and preparation of the presentation materials.