Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has said that his country would contribute to improving the air defense of Ukraine, local media reported Monday.
Store met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday where he announced that Norway would participate in an international air defense initiative for Ukraine.
The Nordic country will revise the budget of the Nansen program, which provides military and civilian support to Ukraine in the amount of $6.8 billion over five years, according to TV2.
"We have very little time to delay, so Norway will be involved in financing. There are several other countries that are contributing to this, because there are air defence systems that can get to Ukraine quite quickly, and they have been working intensively on this in the last few days and weeks," he said.
Store emphasized that countries need to send air defense systems from their own warehouses as producing them takes time.
"That has been the pattern so far, and we have also contributed to that. Other countries will also dig deeper to contribute to this. We also need to increase production," he added.
The minister warned that Kyiv is running out of means to defend itself against Moscow.
"The news every morning is about Russian missiles and drones hitting civilian buildings and power plants and killing many people. Ukraine has been able to defend itself against this, but it is beginning to run out of steam," Store stressed.
Without specifying the exact amount, the minister said the "significant sums" will go toward Ukraine's air defense.
"We will return to that when we present the revised budget.
"It is expensive but preserving peace and freedom costs money. Those who pay the highest price are Ukraine and Ukrainians," Store added.
Germany on Monday said that it will send another new Patriot air defense system to Ukraine as soon as possible.
Siemtje Moller, the parliamentary state secretary at the German Defense Ministry, stressed that Ukraine needs more protection and capabilities to repel long-range Russian attacks.
“Every contribution, every (air defense) system, and every component are important, and we also welcome financial propositions," Moller said ahead of the Council meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed Friday that NATO countries have available air defense systems that can be sent to Ukraine "in the near future.”
The US House of Representatives on Saturday passed a $61 billion legislative package providing military aid to Ukraine despite objections by some Republican politicians.
