STORTINGET (Dagbladet): Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called all parliamentary leaders to a closed-door meeting at the Storting this morning.

Dagbladet can confirm that the meeting was about Norwegian arms support to Ukraine.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister was able to tell politicians that the government had now almost exhausted all funds for arms support set aside for 2023.

7.5 billion was allocated for military support to Ukraine earlier this year. Already at the beginning of June, 6.8 of these billions have been used, says Dagbladet.

The solution presented by Støre is as follows: the government wanted the approval of the Storting to use 2.5 billion coming Ukrainian grants of the year already this year, according to information from Dagbladet.

Thus, Ukraine’s total arms-related allocations will be at least NOK 10 billion for the current year.

Støre argued that the government needs “more flexible arrangements” when Ukraine is to receive financial support. That’s why he wants to use the money from 2024 already this year.

Internal dispute after email

According to information from Dagbladet, there was broad support for Støre during the closed-door meeting.

MDG Summit Lan Marie Berg says his party wants to significantly increase Ukraine’s armaments.

– We want the government to receive an additional five billion crowns a year to support Ukraine. Half of these funds will go to military support, the other half to humanitarian support. This will represent about 10% of the extraordinary income that Norway has received from gas since the start of the war. The only thing missing would be Norway not providing predictable support to Ukraine, Berg tells Dagbladet.

– The needs in Ukraine, both military and humanitarian, are only increasing, she adds.