Chief of the Norwegian Armed Forces Kristoffersen: peace is possible only on Ukraine's terms
The Commander-in-Chief of the Norwegian Armed Forces Eirik Kristoffersen said that any peace without taking into account Ukraine's position would not last. According to him, Russia's goals have remained unchanged since 2022, so Europe should continue to support the Ukrainian resistance as an element of its own security. Source: Ukrinform.
Military aid and finance. Norway recently allocated around €270 million for a new aid package to Ukraine, including air defence reinforcement and F 16 fighter jets. For 2026, Oslo has pledged almost $8.5 billion in support. Since 2022, the country has also joined the PURL initiative, financing the purchase of about $835 million worth of US weapons.
PURL and cooperation with the United States. Christoffersen stressed that PURL packages are formed according to the real needs of Ukraine. According to him, the United States adapted the content of these packages after consultations with the Ukrainian command, in particular with General Syrsky, and with the assistance of Norway. At the same time, PURL is only part of a broader support package that includes the transfer of weapons from warehouses and cooperation with the Ukrainian defence industry.
European security priority. The Chief of the Norwegian Armed Forces stressed that the war in Ukraine determines the future of Europe. He supports the course of increasing defence spending in line with the decisions of the NATO Summit in Washington, including 3.5 per cent of GDP for defence and 1.5 per cent for resilient societies.
NATO is stronger Christoffersen agreed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's assessment that the Alliance is stronger now than it was a few years ago. He cited the accession of Finland and Sweden, the growth of defence budgets and joint support for Ukraine as factors in strengthening the eastern flank.
EU and NATO. According to the Norwegian general, the European Union and NATO do not compete, but coordinate. The EU plays an important role in the development of the defence industry, standardisation and military mobility, which directly affects the assistance to Ukraine.
Training of Ukrainian soldiers Norway is expanding the training of Ukrainian soldiers in Poland, in particular at the Jomsborg base. This is the largest Norwegian training site abroad. In general, Ukrainians are also trained in Norway, Lithuania, Germany, the UK and Romania.
Lessons of war. Among the key lessons for Europe, Kristoffersen named the need for joint intelligence, the ability to quickly mobilise society, the development of unmanned systems and the digital integration of troop management. He recognised that the Ukrainian defence industry has become a leader in drones and rapid innovation.
Social resilience. According to Norwegian polls, 9 out of 10 citizens are ready to defend their country. Support for Ukraine and the growth of defence spending remain high, which Kristoffersen attributes to open public discussions about threats.
Russia's goals. The general is convinced that the Kremlin has not abandoned its intentions to subjugate Ukraine and stop its rapprochement with the West. That is why, he emphasised, peace is possible only on Ukraine's terms, otherwise it will be a temporary pause before a new aggression.
Фото: Facebook/Eirik Kristoffersen
