22 April 2021, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar held a video meeting with State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway Audun Halvorsen. 

Vasyl Bodnar informed his Norwegian colleague about the concentration of Russian troops on the Ukrainian borders, the aggravation of the security situation in the temporarily occupied territories in eastern Ukraine and Crimea, the illegal closure of part of the Black Sea waters in the direction of the Kerch Strait. He stressed that Russia’s escalation strategy is accompanied by a significant increase in anti-Ukrainian propaganda and aggressive rhetoric by Russian media and officials. 

Audun Halvorsen reaffirmed Norway’s unwavering support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, and the process of implementing systemic reforms. The Norwegian diplomat praised Ukraine’s efforts aimed at resolving the Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict by political and diplomatic means and its balanced approach as opposed to Russia’s aggravation of the security situation. 

In this context, the Deputy Minister and the Secretary of State discussed ways to strengthen practical assistance to Ukraine in order to deter Russia from further aggressive actions. 

The Parties as well discussed the preparation for the inaugural summit of the Crimea Platform.