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Hope PM Modi will use channels to Russia to help bring ceasefire in Ukraine: Norway PM Store

admin — Tue, 19 May 2026 02:28:00 +0000

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store at the government’s representative facilities in Oslo, Norway, on May 18, 2026.
| Photo Credit: via Reuters

Norway hopes India will use its channels with Russia to push for a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. Speaking to Indian journalists here in Oslo during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to Norway, Mr. Store indicated that while the two sides had differences on the issue, he understood India’s need to source energy.

The Norwegian government has built a fund for Ukraine and sent in military support in the conflict, and has consistently pushed for more sanctions against Russia.

‘Respect’ for India’s energy needs

Mr. Store said it was useful to exchange views with Mr. Modi on Tuesday (May 19) on geopolitical issues, and he had “respect” for the reasons for India’s position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He also said that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval had met their Norwegian counterparts for further discussions on the issue.

Elusive peace: Editorial on the Russia-Ukraine war

“India is a huge country and has needs for its energy supplies. And Norway being an energy exporter, we should respect that,” Mr. Store said in response to a question from The Hindu, but added that there has to be “more pressure on Russia to come to the table and make real effort to end this war.”

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, India has increased its intake of Russian oil multifold, with Russian crude that once made up less than 1% of India’s imports reaching high points of 40% of the whole.

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Mr. Store’s comments came shortly before the U.S. government announced it would extend its sanctions waivers on the import of Russian oil for a third month during the war in West Asia, while India said it would continue its oil imports from Moscow.

“We believe that when Russia can feel that energy [exports] are also being restricted — their sales — that creates pressure on Russia. At the same time, I know that the Indian Prime Minister and Indian leadership have channels with the Russian leadership, and I hope to see that they can use them to get a ceasefire going,” Mr. Store continued, when asked about his comments during a joint press appearance earlier in the day, where he referred to issues where “Norway and India do not always see eye to eye”.

However, he denied that the differences had impacted the bilateral relationship between India and Norway in any negative way.

On India’s role in Arctic Council

Mr. Store was also asked about whether the divide over Russia would affect India’s engagement with the 8-nation Arctic Council that includes all Arctic states: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. India has been a permanent member of the grouping that discusses trade routes, climate change and ocean management since 2013, and Mr. Store denied a question on whether Norway expects India to “pick a side” between Russia and other members.

“We wish to see that India with its science, which is more and more impressive, can also be part of the research on Arctic climate, which is important for India. And I hope in the future that Arctic cooperation can come back to some more normal terms,” he added.

PM Modi and PM Store will be joined on Tuesday by other leaders of Nordic States — Sweden, Iceland, Finland and Denmark for the Third Nordic-India Summit.

The meeting is taking place a year after it was originally scheduled, as PM Modi had to cancel his visit after the terror strikes in Pahalgam and the 4-day India-Pakistan conflict.

When asked, Mr. Store said that all countries must take a firm position against terrorism, which Norway has also suffered due to.

“We have to stand together against [terrorism], to fight it in its darkest shapes, but also to prevent it. And for that we need political cooperation and today’s visit has confirmed that Norway and India are getting closer,” Mr. Store told Indian journalists.

Published – May 19, 2026 08:00 am IST

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Norway, Ireland, Spain to officially recognise Palestinian state; Israel recalls ambassadors

admin — Wed, 22 May 2024 07:40:08 +0000

Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store speaks during a news conference in Oslo, Norway, Wednesday, May 22, 2024. Norway said it would recognise a Palestinian state and Ireland was expected to do the same.
| Photo Credit: AP

Norway, Ireland and Spain said Wednesday they are recognising a Palestinian state in a historic move that drew condemnation from Israel and jubilation from the Palestinians. Israel immediately ordered back its ambassadors from Norway and Ireland.

The formal recognition will be made on May 28. The development is a step toward a long-held Palestinian aspiration that came against the backdrop of international outrage over the civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip following Israel’s offensive there.

It was a lightning cascade of announcements. First was Norway, whose Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said, “There cannot be peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition.”

ALSO READ | India backs Palestine’s bid for full U.N. membership

In making his announcement, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said the move was coordinated with Spain and Norway — and that it was a “historic and important day for Ireland and for Palestine.” He said it was intended to help move the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to resolution through a two-state solution.

Mr. Harris said he thinks other countries will join Norway, Spain and Ireland in recognizing a Palestinian state “in the weeks ahead.”

In response, Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz has ordered Israel’s ambassadors from Ireland and Norway to immediately return to Israel.

“Ireland and Norway intend to send a message today to the Palestinians and the whole world: terrorism pays,” Mr. Katz said.

He said that the recognition could impede efforts to return Israel’s hostages being held in Gaza and makes a ceasefire less likely by “rewarding the jihadists of Hamas and Iran.” He also threatened to recall Israel’s ambassador to Spain if the country takes a similar position.

ALSO READ | Rediscovering Palestinian statehood

Several European Union countries have in the past weeks indicated that they plan to make the recognition, arguing a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region. The decision may generate momentum for the recognition of a Palestinian state by other EU countries and could spur further steps at the United Nations, deepening Israel’s isolation.

In favour of two-state solution

Norway, which is not a member of the European Union but mirror its moves, has been an ardent supporter of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

“The terror has been committed by Hamas and militant groups who are not supporters of a two-state solution and the state of Israel,” the Norwegian government leader said.

“Palestine has a fundamental right to an independent state,” Gahr Støre told a news conference.

The move comes as Israeli forces have led assaults on the northern and southern edges of the Gaza Strip in May, causing a new exodus of hundreds of thousands of people, and sharply restricted the flow of aid, raising the risk of famine.

The Scandinavian country “will therefore regard Palestine as an independent state with all the rights and obligations that entails,” Gahr Store said.

Norway’s recognition of a Palestine state comes more than 30 years after the first Oslo agreement was signed in 1993.

Since then, “the Palestinians have taken important steps towards a two-state solution,” the Norwegian government said.

It said that the World Bank determined that Palestine had met key criteria to function as a state in 2011, that national institutions have been built up to provide the population with important services.

“The war in Gaza and the constant expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank still mean that the situation in Palestine is more difficult than it has been in decades,” the Norwegian government said.

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