Ukraine, Norway step up air defence, drone cooperation PHOTO

Ukrainian Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara met with Commander-in-Chief of the Norwegian Armed Forces General Eirik Kristoffersen to discuss strengthening Ukraine’s air defence, countering Russian Shahed-type jet drones and advancing preparations for a bilateral Drone Deal agreement.

According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, Khmara briefed the Norwegian side on Ukraine’s key defence needs and priority areas, with countering jet-powered Shahed drones emerging as one of the main topics of the talks, Ukrinform reports.

Khmara said Ukraine is developing its own capabilities to address emerging Russian threats but requires continued support from international partners to rapidly scale up those solutions.

“Ukraine is developing countermeasures, but we need the support of our partners to scale up these solutions quickly. Assistance with interceptor missiles against Russian ballistic threats also remains critical,” Khmara said.

The Ukrainian defence minister also said recent strikes against important targets were affecting Russia’s ability to manufacture and deploy missiles, describing the attacks as part of sustained pressure on Russia’s military capabilities.

The talks also focused on expanding defence cooperation between Ukraine and Norway, including joint work on unmanned systems, technological development and Ukrainian defence solutions tested in combat conditions.

Kyiv and Oslo are continuing preparations to sign the Drone Deal, with both sides expressing readiness to finalize the agreement.

Khmara also emphasized Ukraine’s willingness to share additional technological solutions with its partners that could contribute to strengthening the defence capabilities of both countries.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Khmara thanked Norway for its continued and “much-needed” support for Ukraine.

By Vafa Guliyeva