COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) 鈥 The parliament of oil-rich Norway on Thursday announced that the Scandinavian country is donating 75 billion kroner ($7.4 billion) to Kyiv as part of a five-year support package, making Norway one of the world鈥檚 biggest donors to war-torn Ukraine.
In a video address to the 169-seat parliament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Norway for the donation.
鈥淵ou are creating a precedent for long-term financial support for a state that鈥檚 defending its independence," Zelenskyy said.
The 10 Norwegian party leaders spoke afterward to express their support to the package. Only the socialist Red Party, which has eight seats, opposed the donation, because part of the money was earmarked for weapons. No vote was held.
The money will be split evenly between military and humanitarian assistance over five years, broken down to 15 billion kroner ($1.5 billion) annually.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine a year ago was 鈥渢he first attack in Europe since World War II,鈥 Gahr St酶re said.
He added that the money was from oil income, and the donation should not affect the Norwegian economy.
鈥淭his is money out of Norway that we should not use or would not use in Norway right now" he added.
Norway is one of Europe鈥檚 largest fossil-fuel exporters, and the conflict in Ukraine has boosted its revenues as European countries previously reliant on Russia seek alternative energy sources. However, Norway has fended off accusations that it鈥檚 profiting from the war in Ukraine.
