Norway

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway arrived in Kyiv on an official visit. This is the first visit of a member of the Norwegian royal family to Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale war.

Western intelligence agencies suggest that in the event of a truce, Russia may transfer troops to the borders of Finland, Norway, the Baltic countries and Belarus. The infrastructure is already ready.

EU countries have tentatively approved the creation of the SAFE fund with 150 billion euros for defense projects, including support for Ukraine. The fund should strengthen Europe's defense capabilities and the arms industry.

The finalists of Eurovision-2025 have been determined in Basel after two semi-finals. Ukraine has reached the final, where the founding countries and winners of the qualifying rounds will also perform.

The Minister of Defense of Norway stated that all F-16 aircraft promised to Ukraine will be delivered by the end of 2025. Some of the aircraft have already been handed over, but their number is not disclosed.

Bookmakers predict Sweden's victory at Eurovision 2025. Ukraine has an 11% chance of making the top five, and Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and other countries have also qualified for the final.

13 countries of the Council of Europe have signed the Convention on the Protection of the Legal Profession. Ukraine is absent among them, although it was expected that it would be one of the first to ratify the document.

The President of Ukraine stated that in case of Russia's refusal to cease fire, sanctions should be applied. The preparation of the 17th package of sanctions against the Russian Federation with the participation of many countries is also underway.

The President of France has declared support for Trump's call for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, awaiting Russia's response.

The presidents of Finland and Norway initiated talks with Trump and Zelenskyy regarding the possibility of a 30-day ceasefire. Zelenskyy thanked them for their support of Ukraine.

Tesla sales plummeted across Europe in April, especially in Sweden (-81%). The reasons cited are the growing popularity of Chinese electric vehicles and protests against Elon Musk.

Georgia dropped 11 positions in the press freedom ranking due to the hostile environment for the media and attacks on journalists. Ukraine took 62nd place, and Russia – 171st, dropping by 9 lines.

According to the ranking of the organization "Reporters Without Borders", global press freedom has deteriorated. Ukraine is ranked 62nd, between South Korea and Brazil.

The US is transferring decommissioned F-16s to Ukraine for spare parts to support the F-16 fleet provided by Europe. Non-operational aircraft stored at the landfill have already been sent via Poland.

The European Commission is investing 910 million euros in the European Defense Fund. For the first time, the Ukrainian defense industry will be able to join the fund's projects, strengthening cooperation.

Gas consumption in the EU has fallen by 20% since 2021, which has allowed to reduce gas imports, and the bloc will be able to meet demand without additional infrastructure or imports.

Poland will train the population on how to act in the event of disasters and wars. A "Safety Manual" will be sent to every home to teach them how to recognize and respond to threats.

A video has appeared online showing a hotel employee in Norway fleeing from a polar bear that attacked him. The man tried to shoot back, and then escaped on a snowmobile.

A disputed Arctic land plot in Svalbard may be sold to environmentalists for €300 million. The Norwegian government must approve the sale due to national security concerns.

The Prime Minister stated that Russian attacks have led to the loss of almost 50% of gas production. To compensate for these losses, Ukraine is actively working on gas imports.

Latvian companies will supply 12,000 drones within the framework of the Drone Coalition. Support for the coalition to Ukraine in 2024 amounted to EUR 1.8 billion.

The Supervisory Board of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine has elected Serhiy Koretskyi as the new head of the Naftogaz Group. Prior to this, he headed Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta.

Naftogaz has raised a EUR 270 million EBRD loan and a EUR 140 million grant from Norway to purchase 1 billion cubic meters of gas. This is necessary for a stable heating season.

April 27 marked the third anniversary of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine "Ramstein". Since its creation, the format has become a platform for providing Ukraine with military assistance worth billions of dollars.

The Prime Ministers of Ukraine and Norway discussed cooperation in the economic and defense spheres, paying special attention to the joint production of weapons. Norway has allocated $8 billion to support Ukraine.

The FMBTech project with a budget of 19 million euros has officially started in the EU, bringing together 26 organizations from 13 countries to modernize tanks for modern combat conditions. The project aims to create maneuverable and intelligent tanks.

Ukraine and the EBRD have signed an agreement on the allocation of 270 million euros under state guarantees and a grant from Norway of 140 million euros. These funds will be used to import gas by Naftogaz.

Latvia has officially withdrawn from the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits anti-personnel mines, due to the changing security situation and Russian aggression. The authorities assure that they will adhere to the norms of humanitarian law.

Donald Trump will pay a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE from May 13 to 16. Before that, he will visit Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis.

The President of Ukraine had a conversation with the Prime Minister of Norway, discussing Russian shelling and expanding security cooperation. They also agreed on joint positions.