At the meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Borge Brende, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has discussed significant potential of broadening cooperation between the countries.

The President has thanked Norway for the efficient support and assistance. The Head of State has noted the role of Norway and Norwegian company Statoil in diversification of supply of energy resources to Ukraine this winter. “We have introduced a new form of reverse shipments and will not allow anyone to use gas supply as an instrument of imposing pressure on Ukraine in the future,” Petro Poroshenko noted.

The President has thanked Norway for the provision of assistance to Ukraine in difficult times for our country and welcomed today’s conclusion of the Agreement on the provision of budgetary aid in the amount of NOK 100 million.

Borge Brende has noted that Norway had increased the level of support to Ukraine significantly that year and was willing to provide further assistance.

The President has reaffirmed the intention of Ukrainian authorities to continue the process of reforms despite Russian aggression in the East. The Head of State has noted that the Ukrainian program of reforms had been positively evaluated by the IMF and European partners.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister has stated the beginning of fundamental reforms in Ukraine, inter alia, in judicial sphere, public administration and struggle against corruption. “It provides a powerful impetus to Norwegian investors,” he said.

The Head of State has also touched upon the issue of military-technical cooperation between Ukraine and Norway. Petro Poroshenko has expressed gratitude for Norway’s participation in the NATO Trust Fund and sending military counselors and instructors. Petro Poroshenko has also expressed gratitude for Norway’s participation in the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission in Donbas.

The President has noted that militants kept on violating the Minsk agreements grossly, inter alia, the obligation to withdraw heavy weaponry. They resort to shelling and even such “brutal farce” like military parade in Donetsk on May 9 with the use of heavy weaponry. “We expect the international community to respond strictly,” the President said.

The Head of State has also informed on the absence of progress in the liberation of hostages, particularly Nadiya Savchenko, which has been illegally kept in Russia for 11 months already.

According to Borge Brende, Norway shares borders with Russia, just as Ukraine, and expects its neighbors to respect international law.

The Foreign Minister of Norway has noted that it was his sixth visit to Ukraine in a bit more than a year. Petro Poroshenko has called the given fact a good indicator of relationship and coordination level between the countries.