Ukraine and Norway agreed on Tuesday to deepen their defence-industrial cooperation, with a new protocol that includes support for drone production in Ukraine and the licensed production of Ukrainian drones in Norway. The announcement came during President Zelensky’s visit to Oslo, where he met Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre as the two countries framed the move as both military support for Kyiv and a long-term investment in Norway’s own defence capabilities.
What Norway and Ukraine agreed on in Oslo
The agreement was presented after talks between Zelensky and Støre in Oslo. According to the Norwegian government, the joint declaration covers closer defence and industrial cooperation, with Norway committing to support drone production in Ukraine while Ukraine will share lessons learned, data and other operational insights.
Speaking after the meeting, Støre said the partnership is not only about one-way support from Norway to Ukraine. He argued that Norway can also learn from Ukraine’s battlefield experience, particularly in a war where drones have become central to surveillance, targeting and strike operations.
Norwegian Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik said Ukrainian drones will also be produced in Norway under licence for a Ukrainian company. That makes the agreement notable beyond short-term aid: it points to a more structured transfer of defence know-how between Kyiv and a NATO member bordering Russia. Norwegian officials also said Ukrainian instructors are expected to come to Norway to share frontline insights with the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Why drone production has become central to the war in Ukraine
The drone cooperation reflects a broader shift in the war. Over the past two years, Ukraine has built one of Europe’s most battle-tested drone sectors, using unmanned systems for reconnaissance, battlefield coordination and long-range strikes. For Western partners, cooperation with Ukraine is increasingly seen not only as a form of solidarity, but also as a way to absorb practical knowledge from the most intensive drone war currently being fought in Europe.
That logic was visible in Oslo. Støre said Norway has much to gain from listening to Ukraine’s experience, both for its defence industry and for its own armed forces. The Norwegian side presented the partnership as a way to strengthen peace through preparedness, drawing on lessons that Ukraine has paid for at very high cost.
Norway, Germany and Ukraine are building a wider defence link
The Oslo meeting came just after Zelensky met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Germany, where the two sides also announced closer defence cooperation focused on air defence and drone technology. Norwegian officials said Norway is already cooperating with both Ukraine and Germany on drones, suggesting that the new protocol fits into a wider European effort to expand production capacity and integrate Ukrainian wartime expertise into allied defence planning.
This matters for the Nordic region as well. Norway shares a border with Russia and has been increasing its attention to military readiness since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In that context, licensed drone production and industrial partnerships are becoming part of a broader debate in northern Europe about deterrence, supply resilience and the future of European defence manufacturing.
Military support still includes unresolved questions over the F-16s
The visit also revived attention to Norway’s delayed delivery of F-16 fighter jets promised to Ukraine in 2023. Norwegian media recently reported that none of the six aircraft has yet reached the war, with several still undergoing work in Belgium. Støre said Ukraine was aware that the donated aircraft were not operational when they were transferred and that the refurbishment work is being prioritised.
The contrast is politically relevant. While the F-16 process has moved slowly, the new drone agreement offers a more immediate and flexible form of cooperation in an area where Ukraine has unique expertise and where European countries are trying to scale up quickly.
A new phase in Norway’s support for Ukraine
Norway has significantly expanded its overall assistance through the Nansen programme, with the government proposing NOK 85 billion in support for Ukraine in 2026. Against that backdrop, the new agreement with Ukraine signals a more reciprocal phase in the relationship: Oslo is still providing support, but it is also openly seeking to learn from Kyiv.
For Nordic and European governments, that shift may prove important. Ukraine is no longer seen only as a recipient of military aid, but increasingly as a source of operational knowledge that can shape how allied countries prepare for future threats.
