The war has brought tremendous suffering for the people in Ukraine, leaving a trail of blood and destruction across the country. The massacres in Bucha and other Ukrainian towns will always be remembered as the true face of the brutal war of aggression Russia is waging against Ukraine and its people. The crimes and atrocities committed in Ukraine cannot go unpunished. Those responsible for these war crimes, and their accomplices, will be held to account in accordance with international law.

European response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has been united, decisive, strong and comprehensive. We know that Ukraine is fighting not only for its independence and territorial integrity but also for democracy and our common values. The EU and its Member States are ready to support Ukraine’s initiative for a just peace based on respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The overall assistance to Ukraine and its people by the EU and its Member States so far amounts to approximately NOK 729 billion (EUR 67 billion). In addition, we have adopted nine, soon to be ten, packages of sanctions against Russia. Since the start of Russia's war of aggression, the EU, its Member States and its financial institutions, in a Team Europe approach, are supporting Ukraine's overall economic, social and financial resilience. We are committed to continue this support for as long as it is needed.

Ukraine has now become a candidate country for EU membership.

From the very beginning Norway has stood shoulder to shoulder with the EU and its Member States in condemning Putin's aggression on Ukraine and supporting Ukraine as well as dealing with the consequences of the war.

The donations of weapons from the EU, EU Member States and Norway have been and continue to be critical for Ukraine’s defence. Norway and the EU have financed the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to Ukraine. This is the first time the EU has contributed with this equipment to a country at war. To Norway, it meant a change of practice that had been in force since 1959.

 Norway, and, for the first time ever, the EU, have financed the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country that is at war.

We welcome Norway’s alignment with EU sanctions to increase the pressure on Russia and its government. Recently Norway adopted the latest 9^th EU sanctions package

Norway has also provided important financial and humanitarian support to Ukraine and taken in refugees fleeing the war.

The EU furthermore appreciates Norway’s steadfast political support for Ukraine. Cooperation with Norway on the response to the war in the multilateral for a has been very close, notably in the UN where Norway had a key role as an elected member of the UN Security Council 2021-22.

Additional joint efforts also include training and equipping the Ukrainian Armed Forces to counter the Russian aggression. Norway has decided to support EU Military Assistance Mission Ukraine (EUMAM) with a voluntary financial contribution of NOK 150 million to the European Peace Facility and with training staff.

We can count on Norway as a key partner for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction effort. This requires a comprehensive approach and the mobilization of joint resources of the Ukrainian government and international partners.

We welcome the recent announcement by the Norwegian government to provide the Nansen support programme, an aid package worth NOK 75 billion for Ukraine, to be spread out over five years.

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The war has resulted in a geopolitical shockwaves in Europe and beyond. It has caused a serious energy crisis in the EU and fuelled a global food crisis.

A friend in need is a friend in deed: With help from Norway, we did not give in to Putin's blackmail and managed to fill the gap for natural gas in Europe. Norway has increased its gas supplies to the EU at maximum, becoming the largest single supplier of gas to Europe in 2022. Norway’s continued deliveries of natural gas to Europe at maximum capacity will be crucial for meeting Europe’s energy needs in the near future.

On the road to reducing our dependence on Russian fossil fuels, the EU and Norway work closely together to accelerate the energy transition and to increase the production of renewable energy. The green shift is important not only to fight climate change but it is also a matter of geopolitics and security.

The EU and Norway have a shared assessment of the challenges we face in dealing with the global impact of the Russian War on Ukraine. The focus should be on the most vulnerable countries affected by escalating price shocks in the global food, energy and fertilizer markets – the same countries that are very often already grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

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We have shown that in times of war and crisis, the EU and its closest likeminded partners can come together. We can exert our international influence jointly to protect multilateral, rules-based international order. Vladimir Putin’s regime underestimated not only Ukraine, but also our European unity and resolve, which is based on shared values and interests as well as on close integration.

Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the energy and climate crises and their economic and social consequences will remain key issues for the EU and the world. The EU will continue supporting Ukraine. We will resist the weaponization of energy by Russia by accelerating the decarbonisation of our economies. We are determined to help the most vulnerable countries to face the consequences of this new geopolitical environment.

We look forward to continue to work with Norway as our key partner in all these efforts.

Signed by the 27 EU Member States Ambassadors and the EU Ambassador to Norway.

 

First published in: Altinget