President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska have arrived in Norway. On September 9, they will attend the farewell ceremony for King Harald V.
“Tomorrow, on behalf of all our people, we will express our gratitude to Norway during the farewell ceremony for His Majesty King Harald V,” the president said.
King Harald V died on August 28 at the age of 89. He had reigned since 1991 and was remembered by Norwegians as an approachable monarch and a symbol of national unity.
Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the king publicly expressed his support for Ukraine. In a New Year’s address, he described Russia’s actions as a “brutal war in Ukraine.” In December 2023, he received Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Royal Palace.
During his current visit, Zelenskyy will also meet Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. They will discuss continued support for Ukraine, stronger air defenses and assistance needed to get through the winter.
Zelenskyy and Støre will also meet representatives of companies working on the FREYJA anti-ballistic missile system. Ukraine hopes to expand this cooperation to strengthen its defenses against Russian ballistic missiles.
