Zelensky seeks air defence in Norway visit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Norway on Tuesday ahead of King Harald V's funeral and for talks with Oslo on air-defence support.

Zelensky is due to meet Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Tuesday evening, Store's office said. The office said Ukraine has a critical need for air-defence systems and other military support as it prepares for a difficult winter.

“The talks will focus in particular on how Norwegian military and civilian assistance can best meet Ukraine's current needs,” Store's office said. No press briefing is planned for security reasons.

Zelensky said on Sunday that Ukraine's “weak point” was anti-ballistic capabilities and that he would have meetings in Norway and Canada. “We must develop our own Ukrainian anti-ballistic system,” he said.

King Harald's funeral will be held on Wednesday. Britain's Prince William will represent King Charles III at the service, Buckingham Palace said earlier. Princess Anne is also due to attend in a personal capacity as the godmother of the new king, Haakon VIII.

Norway is one of the main providers of military and civilian aid to Kyiv following Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.