OSLO – Ukrainian World Congress President Paul Grod met with Norwegian lawmakers on Nov. 19 during his 10-day official visit to four northern European countries.
In his meeting with Peter Frølich, a Conservative Party member, they discussed ways to strengthen support for Ukraine amid Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Grod expressed gratitude to Norway for its support, particularly in the defense and humanitarian sectors, and emphasized the importance of continued Norwegian assistance at international forums.
The conversation also covered the deepening of bilateral relations between Ukraine and Norway, including cooperation in energy and the reconstruction of war-affected territories. The issue of lend-lease support for Ukraine was also discussed, as well as the potential for creating a coalition to support Ukraine among Scandinavian countries, the three Baltic States, Poland, and Britain.
Frølich expressed his government’s willingness to back initiatives for arms production in Ukraine. He also shared a personal connection to Ukraine, recalling how his grandfather, a partisan, was sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp during World War II. There, he encountered Ukrainian prisoners who shared their last piece of bread with him, which has fostered Frølich’s strong affinity for Ukraine and its people.
In a meeting with Rasmus Hansson, a member of the Norwegian Green Party and member of the inter-parliamentary friendship group, further discussions focused on increasing financial support for Ukraine, extending assistance, and countering the activities of the propaganda outlet Russia Today in Norway. Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires in Norway, Ihor Holovchenko, also joined the conversation.
In addition to Ukraine’s support, Grod’s visit will also address issues such as aid for Ukrainian refugees, including easing travel restrictions for refugee families wishing to visit Ukraine.
A key focus of the discussions will be backing Ukraine’s integration into NATO, which, according to the UWC, is essential for Europe’s security. Another important topic will be the recognition of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide against the Ukrainian people.
