Zelenskyy’s plane ‘almost hit’ by drone on way to Oslo, Norwegian PM says
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Original Source
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoltenberg revealed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aircraft narrowly avoided being struck by a Russian drone during takeoff from Moldova en route to Oslo. Moldovan authorities confirmed the incident, stating that airspace was temporarily closed before Zelenskyy's plane was cleared to depart once the drone had crashed on Moldovan territory.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store has said a plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from Moldova to Oslo was almost hit by a drone.
Zelenskyy, whose country has been fighting a Russian invasion that began in February 2022, arrived in Norway’s capital on Tuesday evening to attend the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V.
“His flight was almost hit by a drone when it was taking off from Moldova,” Store told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK on Wednesday. “That is the reality he lives in.”
Store did not say what his source was for this information or how close the drone was.
Later on Wednesday, a Moldovan government spokesperson confirmed the incident, saying in a statement that it happened on Tuesday before the take-off, and involved a Russian drone.
The spokesperson said the departure was delayed when authorities closed Moldova’s airspace over a drone alert and Zelenskyy’s aircraft was cleared for take-off once it had been established that the drone had come down on Moldovan territory.
While in Oslo, Zelenskyy held talks with Store, with the two leaders also meeting defence industry executives to discuss advancing a European anti-ballistic system codenamed FREYJA.
In a social media post, Zelenskyy said the meeting focused on dividing responsibilities between governments and defence companies and agreeing on steps needed to produce the first practical results from the programme.
“We expect to see the first practical results. I am grateful to Norway for hosting this meeting. I thank our partners for their readiness to work together. Protecting Europe’s skies is our shared responsibility,” said the Ukrainian president.
Zelenskyy, whose country has been fighting a Russian invasion that began in February 2022, arrived in Norway’s capital on Tuesday evening to attend the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V.
“His flight was almost hit by a drone when it was taking off from Moldova,” Store told Norwegian public broadcaster NRK on Wednesday. “That is the reality he lives in.”
Store did not say what his source was for this information or how close the drone was.
Later on Wednesday, a Moldovan government spokesperson confirmed the incident, saying in a statement that it happened on Tuesday before the take-off, and involved a Russian drone.
The spokesperson said the departure was delayed when authorities closed Moldova’s airspace over a drone alert and Zelenskyy’s aircraft was cleared for take-off once it had been established that the drone had come down on Moldovan territory.
While in Oslo, Zelenskyy held talks with Store, with the two leaders also meeting defence industry executives to discuss advancing a European anti-ballistic system codenamed FREYJA.
In a social media post, Zelenskyy said the meeting focused on dividing responsibilities between governments and defence companies and agreeing on steps needed to produce the first practical results from the programme.
“We expect to see the first practical results. I am grateful to Norway for hosting this meeting. I thank our partners for their readiness to work together. Protecting Europe’s skies is our shared responsibility,” said the Ukrainian president.
🔗 Share Article
Tags:#أوكرانيا#روسيا#زيلينسكي#مسيّرات#النرويج#الحرب
Source: Al Jazeera
For Context
Related reads from the same topic or latest developments
