President Volodymyr Zelenskiy traveled to Oslo on Sept. 8 to attend King Harald V's funeral and to hold urgent talks with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere. The meetings will prioritize Ukraine's immediate air-defence needs as Russia has resumed intense drone and missile strikes that recently killed five people in Kyiv. Zelenskiy will also meet companies involved in the Freyja initiative to advance a coordinated European anti-ballistic system. Norway's military and civilian support ahead of a difficult winter is central to the discussions.
Zelenskiy Visits Oslo for King Harald's Funeral — Urgent Talks on Ukraine's Air Defence
FILE PHOTO: Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy greets Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere before a Ukraine-Nordic-Baltic summit (NB8), amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine August 23, 2026. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich/File Photo
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Oslo on Sept. 8 to attend the funeral of King Harald V and to hold urgent talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, the prime minister's office said.
Tens of thousands of citizens and international leaders are expected to gather in Oslo for the funeral on Wednesday. King Harald, Norway's monarch, died on August 28 at the age of 89.
Talks Focused on Air Defence
Stoere said he would meet Zelenskiy on Tuesday evening to discuss Ukraine's pressing need for air defence as well as other military and civilian support. "Ukraine has a critical need for air defence and other military support, and they are facing a demanding winter," Stoere said, adding that the meeting would examine how Norwegian assistance can best meet Ukraine's immediate needs.
Zelenskiy wrote on the Telegram messaging app that he planned to express his gratitude at the funeral for Norway's support during the four-and-a-half-year war with Russia. He said his talks with Stoere would concentrate on measures to help Kyiv withstand attacks through another winter.
Escalating Attacks and Casualties
Russian forces have resumed near-constant drone and missile strikes on Kyiv after a brief pause during a visit by U.S. peace negotiators. Russian strikes on Tuesday killed five people in the Ukrainian capital, and officials reported additional fatalities in other parts of the country.
Freyja Initiative And European Cooperation
Zelenskiy is also scheduled to meet representatives of companies participating in the Freyja initiative, an effort to develop a coordinated European anti-ballistic and air-defence system. Officials said the discussions will explore how Norwegian military and civilian contributions can be aligned with broader European efforts to strengthen Ukraine's defences.
The visit highlights the dual role of a state leader attending a high-profile funeral while pursuing urgent security talks amid continued hostilities.
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