Ukraine and Norway Possess Robust Foundation for Security and Humanitarian Recovery Cooperation — First Deputy Speaker Oleksandr Korniienko
First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Oleksandr Korniienko held a meeting with a delegation from the international humanitarian organization Norwegian People’s Aid, led by its Secretary General Raymond Johansen.
The meeting was also attended by Halyna Mykhailiuk, Co-Chair of the Veronkhna Rada Group for Interparliamentary Relations with the Kingdom of Norway and Deputy Chair of the Committee on Law Enforcement.
During the meeting, the parties discussed key areas of cooperation between Ukraine and Norway, particularly in security, humanitarian recovery, demining, veteran support, and assistance to vulnerable populations.
Oleksandr Korniienko emphasized that military support remains the critical issue for Ukraine. "There is a strong foundation for security and defense cooperation between Ukraine and Norway, and we can further develop this partnership," noted the First Deputy Speaker.
Special attention during the meeting was paid to the issue of demining Ukraine's territory.
"The problem of demining is one of the most acute challenges we face. Around 20% of Ukraine's territory is contaminated with explosive ordnance," Oleksandr Korniienko emphasized.
The parties also discussed the social and humanitarian challenges triggered by the full-scale war, specifically focusing on support for veterans, children, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations. Oleksandr Korniienko noted that Norway possesses one of the world's finest systems for supporting civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
"It is well known that this system enjoys robust state support, and we would like to adopt similar best practices. We are constantly striving to build mechanisms that ensure the equitable and effective development of our hromadas (communities) and regions. Ukraine has many cities and local communities that are ready for cooperation and fully capable of building long-term partnerships," he emphasized.
In closing, the First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine thanked Raymond Johansen for his visit to Ukraine and called for support in developing partnerships between Ukrainian and Norwegian cities.