---
title: "Ukraine's Zelensky arrives in Norway"
description: "Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Norway on Thursday for an official visit following a trip to Finland, the Norwegian government said in a statement, amid intensive diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-03-20-ukraines-zelenskiy-arrives-in-norway/"
published: "2025-03-20T12:43:15"
updated: "2025-03-20T14:06:51"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 273
---

# Ukraine's Zelensky arrives in Norway

> Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Norway on Thursday for an official visit following a trip to Finland, the Norwegian government said in a statement, amid intensive diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia.

By Reuters · Published 20 March 2025, 14:43 SAST · Updated 20 March 2025, 16:06 SAST

## Key points
- In a diplomatic duet that could rival a Broadway musical, Zelenskiy and Trump harmonized on a potential ceasefire, while Norway, flush with cash from gas sales and buoyed by its sovereign wealth fund, pledged to double down on support for Ukraine, proving that when it comes to backing Kyiv, the Nordic nation isn’t just playing the fiddle—it’s funding the whole orchestra.
- Zelenskiy and Trump discuss a potential halt to energy strikes, with Ukraine ready to respond if Russia breaches the ceasefire.
- Norway pledges to more than double its financial support to Ukraine, increasing aid to 85 billion crowns amid ongoing conflict.
- Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere emphasizes Norway's commitment to Ukraine, highlighting discussions on both immediate and long-term support.
- With a robust sovereign wealth fund, Norway can independently finance increased aid, benefiting from rising gas sales due to the Ukraine invasion.

## Content

Zelenskiy, after speaking on Wednesday with U.S. President Donald Trump, said a halt on energy strikes in the war could be established quickly, but warned Ukraine would respond in kind if Moscow violated the terms of the limited ceasefire.

Zelenskiy and Trump agreed on Wednesday to work together to end Russia's war with Ukraine, in what the White House described as a "fantastic" one-hour phone call.

Like the other Nordic and Baltic nations, Norway is a staunch supporter of Ukraine.

On March 6 the government said it would more than double its financial support to Kyiv this year, to 85 billion crowns ($8.03 billion) from a plan agreed in November of 35 billion crowns.

"Norway stands with Ukraine," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a statement on Thursday.

"I look forward to good discussions on how Norway can best support Ukraine in both the short- and long-term."

Jens Stoltenberg, until October NATO's chief and now Norway's finance minister, will have a meeting with Zelenskiy's delegation and together with other Norwegian officials, the prime minister's office said.

Norway is the only European nation that can finance increased support to Ukraine from its own coffers rather than from debt as it is home to the world's largest sovereign wealth fund, with assets of $1.8 trillion.

Norway's wealth fund has seen soaring income from gas sales to Europe as a result of Russia's 2022 Ukraine invasion.

The nation of 5.6 million inhabitants is a member of NATO, but not of the European Union, and shares a border with Russia in the Arctic.

($1 = 10.5804 Norwegian crowns)

(Reporting by Terje Solsvik, editing by Gwladys Fouche)