The Norwegian government on Thursday decided to allocate NOK 1.6 billion ($152 million) for the purchase of artillery ammunition for Ukraine as part of the Czech Republic's initiative to purchase ammunition to third countries, according to the Norwegian government's website.

“Ukraine has an urgent need for large quantities of artillery ammunition to defend themselves against Russia’s war of aggression. Norway already supports Ukraine with artillery ammunition both from its own stocks and directly from the industry. Today, we have decided to further contribute up to NOK 1.6 billion to an initiative led by Czechia to secure much-needed artillery ammunition to Ukraine as quickly as possible,” said Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre.

As noted in the message, the Czech Republic has taken the initiative to purchase up to 1 million 155-mm artillery shells and other allies to receive funding.

“Norway, in cooperation with several other allies, will contribute. The Norwegian support of up to NOK 1.6 billion ensures that the initiative will be fully funded. This was discussed at a meeting of donors to Ukraine in Paris last week. The Norwegian contribution was communicated to Czechia’s President Petr Pavel by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in a conversation on Thursday morning.

Earlier, the Norwegian government allocated up to NOK 2 billion ($191 million) to increase the production capacity of the Norwegian defense industry, of which NOK 1 billion Norwegian kroner will be used for specific measures to increase the production capacity of the Finnish-Norwegian aerospace and defense group Nammo AS.

"It is important for the government that Norwegian military support helps cover the needs that are a priority for Ukraine in its defense struggle … Ukraine needs access to a large amount of artillery ammunition, and we hope that Norwegian and European support for the Czech initiative will help Ukraine receive large quantities of new ammunition as soon as possible," Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said.

It is also reported that the government has made a number of important decisions on military support for Ukraine for 2024 and is constantly in dialogue with allies and partners on measures that can help cover Ukraine's high-priority military needs. Norway and other allies have taken measures that will help increase production capacity in the defense industry in the long term.

"Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, contrary to international law, remains the biggest problem of Norway's security policy. No other crisis or conflict can affect Norway's security to the same extent ... Therefore, it is extremely important for Ukraine and for our own security that Norway continue to support Ukraine's defensive struggle through military and civilian support," Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said.