**Norway to Help Ukraine‘s Navy Defend Against Russian Threats**
Norway will give 2.7 billion Norwegian kroner ($242 million) to help Ukraine’s navy protect itself against Russia’s threats in the Black Sea. This was announced by Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere on December 16.
The money will be used to make sure Ukrainian ships and ports are safe from Russian attacks. It will also help keep food and other goods moving out of Ukraine by sea. The Black Sea is still heavily mined because of Russia’s war, which makes it difficult for civilian ships to navigate safely.
** Mines Are a Big Problem**
Norway’s Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said that mines are a significant threat to safety in the Black Sea. He explained that removing mines is very hard work. The money from Norway will help Ukraine get the tools it needs to detect and remove these mines, making its coastline safer.
**A Bigger Budget for Aid**
This new donation brings Norway’s total aid budget for helping Ukraine to 137.7 billion kroner ($13.2 billion). This is a big increase from the initial plan of spending 75 billion kroner ($7 billion) between 2023 and 2028.
**Norway’s Help So Far**
Norway has already given $2.6 billion in aid to Ukraine, making it one of the top donors in the world. The Kiel Institute’s Ukraine Support Tracker says that Norway is ranked 12th in terms of aid provided to Ukraine.