On 27 March, Ukraine’s Minister of Strategic Industries, Herman Smetanin, met in Kyiv with a Norwegian delegation that included Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Barth Eide, Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Tonje Brenna, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Norway to Ukraine Helene Sand Andresen, and other representatives from the Norwegian Government and Embassy in Ukraine.

“Norway is our reliable strategic partner. We are in constant contact on cooperation in the defence sector. In particular, last week in the Norwegian city of Raufoss, the local company NAMMO and one of the Ukrainian defence companies agreed on strategic cooperation to expand the existing partnership. During the Munich Security Conference, we discussed promising areas of cooperation and Norway’s participation in financing the Ukrainian defence industry with Norwegian Defence Minister Tore Onshuus Sandvik,” said the Minister of Strategic Industries.

Herman Smetanin expressed his gratitude to Norway for participating in the ZBROYARI initiative and called for further cooperation in this area.

“Ukrainian defence is capable, it is developing in terms of the number of weapons produced and the introduction of new technologies,” added Herman Smetanin.

He also showed the guests one of the defence enterprises that produces modern weapons.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide expressed his praise for the Ukrainian defence industry, highlighting the extraordinary innovations being developed to defend Ukraine. He emphasised that Norway would continue its close cooperation with the Ukrainian defence industry, and reaffirmed Norway’s role as a strong and reliable partner for Ukraine on all fronts.

The head of the Ministry of Strategic Industries stressed Ukraine’s interest in deepening cooperation with Norway. According to Herman Smetanin, this will strengthen both countries.