OSLO/BERLIN — Norway and Germany moved in parallel on Tuesday to deepen ties with Ukraine, as Oslo advanced defense cooperation and Berlin elevated relations to a "strategic partnership".

Norway and Ukraine agreed to strengthen cooperation in defense and security, including closer collaboration in defense industries to develop new technologies, expand production and enable Ukrainian drones to be manufactured in Norway.

The agreement was reached during talks in Oslo between Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a Norwegian government statement.

Under a joint declaration, Oslo committed to supporting drone production in Ukraine, while Kyiv agreed to share operational experience, data and technological insights with Norway.

Store said Norway would assess how Ukrainian technology and its drone industry could help strengthen Oslo's long-term defense capabilities, adding that establishing Ukrainian drone production in Norway was essential.

The two sides plan to expand cooperation to production of anti-aircraft systems and ammunition, he said.

Relations elevated

Separately, Germany and Ukraine announced they would elevate bilateral relations to a "strategic partnership", with both sides pledging to enhance cooperation on defense and economy.

The two countries held their first intergovernmental consultations in more than 20 years on Tuesday and signed multiple defense agreements.

Among them was a deal to exchange digital combat data for developing new weapon systems, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said at a news conference with Zelensky.

A joint declaration said the two sides would start new cooperation on industrial recovery and foster collaboration in cyber security, agriculture, energy and critical minerals.

Merz called for a negotiated, lasting end to the Ukraine crisis, stressing that Europe must secure a seat at the table in any future peace negotiations.

Zelensky said he believes that eventual agreements would include European participation.

XINHUA