Ukraine and Norway have agreed on priority areas for defence cooperation including air defence, unmanned systems, and defence innovation ahead of the next Ramstein-format meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on 15 April.
Ukrainian Minister of Defence Mykhailo Fedorov and his Norwegian counterpart Tore O. Sandvik identified key areas for near-term collaboration during a call, according to the Ukrainian MoD.
Priorities discussed included strengthening air defence and advancing the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List initiative, support for the so-called Czech initiative on ammunition procurement, and backing for innovative projects to enhance the capabilities of Ukraine’s Defence Forces.
The two sides also discussed a project to equip Ukrainian brigades with drones, which Kyiv describes as a key area for improving battlefield effectiveness.
The Ukrainian side briefed Norway on the implementation of its War Plan, claiming progress in airspace protection, the scaling up of lower-tier air defence through the use of interceptor drones, and improved target engagement effectiveness. The Ukrainian MoD said March was the most successful month under its “Army of Drones. Bonus” programme in terms of enemy targets destroyed. Ukraine also highlighted the importance of partner-supplied air defence systems in helping the country through the winter period, saying they helped protect critical infrastructure and stabilise the energy sector.
Fedorov invited Sandvik to visit Ukraine to observe lower-tier air defence and unmanned systems in operation, saying Ukraine is ready to share its operational experience with Norway as part of what it described as a mutually beneficial partnership.
