The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway discussed support for Ukraine in the international arena and cooperation within the Ukraine Donor Platform.

Minister of Finance of Ukraine Sergii Marchenko held a working meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Espen Barth Eide.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister of Finance of Ukraine Olga Zykova and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Norway to Ukraine Helene Sand Andersen. 

 The parties discussed the financing of the State Budget of Ukraine for 2025, cooperation within the Ukraine Donor Platform and monitoring of the reform process according to the Reforms Matrix.

"I am pleased to welcome Espen Barth Eide and his team to Kyiv. Norway is a strategically important partner and donor of military, humanitarian and financial support to Ukraine. As Minister of Finance, I am particularly grateful for the more than half a billion in grants of financial aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, which became a timely and valuable contribution to the financial stability of our country,” said Sergii Marchenko. 

The Ukrainian side noted Norway's contribution to the World Bank's Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF). Norway is the largest donor to the URTF, with over USD 592 million out of a total of USD 1.85 billion. 

The projects funded by the URTF are aimed at supporting the energy, health, agriculture and recovery sectors. As part of the meetings between the Government of Ukraine, the Bank and the donor countries of the Fundare considering new programme proposals in line with Ukraine's growing and highest priority needs.

In addition, the participants discussed the recent proposal of the Government of Norway to increase assistance under the Nansen Programme for Ukraine. This would include an increase in the total funding for the programme to NOK 135 billion (about USD 12.7 billion) and an extension of the programme for another three years, until 2030.

Concerning the Ukraine Donor Platform, Norway has expressed its intention to increase support for Ukraine's energy sector. Promoting energy efficiency and restoration of critical infrastructure is one of the priorities identified following the 11th meeting of the Platform's Steering Committee.

As a reminder, on 14 February 2024, during the 8th meeting of the Steering Committee of the Ukraine Donor Platform, Norway, the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands and Sweden joined the Platform and pledged more than USD 5.5 billion to restore and stabilise Ukraine's economy. 

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway, Espen Barth Eide, noted the importance of the Reforms Matrix and the Government of Ukraine's commitment to a transparent and accountable reform process in Ukraine.