Norway Could Make Ukraine Win the War—But Choose Not To.
For the first time, I am embarrassed to be Norwegian.
I am embarrassed that our neighbours have taken up loans and contributed much more to Ukraine than my own country has. The Baltic countries, Denmark, Sweden and Finland deserve all the applause they can get.
I am embarrassed that the Norwegian government tries to manipulate us, and the world, with number-magic to make us believe they give more to Ukraine than they actually do.
I am embarrassed that Norway has harvested so much from this war through gas revenues without providing corresponding support.
According to the Norwegian economists, Halland and Mork, Norway has earned “more than the value of all the military and civilian support Ukraine has received from the United States and Germany combined from when the war started through October 2024.”
More than United States and Germany, the two largest contributors, combined!
And this is what is most embarrassing: Norway has no excuses. The government does not have to choose between giving to Ukraine or letting pensioners freeze. Far from it. We could have given all that extra revenue to Ukraine without taxpayers having to give up a single cup of coffee.
And this is what is most embarrassing: Norway has no excuses. The government does not have to choose between giving to Ukraine or letting pensioners freeze. Far from it. We could have given all that extra revenue to Ukraine without taxpayers having to give up a single cup of coffee.
For every missile attack, for every child buried under rubble, I think “Norway could have prevented this.”
I watched a video of an emaciated Ukrainian soldier, newly freed from Russian captivity, crying while eating an apple. And I was thinking “Norway could have prevented that.”
The cause and effect are, of course, not that simple, but my country could have prevented so much suffering. And our government choose not to.
Why does the government act like this?
It comes down to our government and particularly the prime minster, Jonas Gahr Støre. Other political parties pressure the government to give more, but so far to no avail. Why this reticence? That seems to be a mystery.
Is it fear of Russia? Maybe, but that has not been expressed. The prime minister mumbled something about widespread corruption in Ukraine, or that the country lacks the capacity to receive more support. The rumour is that he dropped a comment in a meeting about “If we give more, others will give less.”
It is all lukewarm prevarications and subterfuge. But for what?
We, who cares deeply about Ukraine shake our heads in bewilderment.
The hardest thing to swallow is that Norway could make Ukraine win.
A victory for Ukraine, not just some wishy-washy peace deal, would be the best thing that could happen, not just for Ukraine but also for Europe.
A victory for Ukraine would be a victory for freedom and democracy, for Europe and European values. For Socrates and Shakespeare. For Monet and Maidan. For everything we cherish. For why Ukraine is fighting this war.
A victory for Ukraine would also give Europe a much needed boost in confidence. A victory could make us believe in our own greatness and not just react to whatever happens elsewhere in the world. “This is who we are.” This is what we believe in.” This is what we want to build.”
Norway is not a member of the European Union but very much part of the European family.
What the recalcitrant government doesn’t seem to grasp either: Nothing could enhance my country’s standing in the world more than making Ukraine win. In a post-fuel future, that prestige could come in handy.
Norway could make Ukraine win this war and can afford it. Instead, I and many of my compatriots bend our heads in shame, wishing we had been a bit more like Denmark or Lithuania.