– It is very serious and completely unacceptable to rattle the nuclear weapons sabers and to make constant threats, as they have done for two years now, says Bjørn Arild Gram to Ukrainapodden, a podcast from Nettavisen.
You can listen to Ukrainapodden on Spotify, and all other podcast platforms.
On Monday, the Russians rattled their famous nuclear weapon sabers again. Russian President Vladimir Putin is said to have ordered an exercise for the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
– I don’t think it is relevant to test explosion. Russia has mentioned nuclear weapons as something they can consider many times since February 2022, but has received a clear message from, among others, China that it will change the situation dramatically for Russia. I think this is part of the intimidation propaganda from Russia, says Russia researcher Jakub Godzimirski to Nettavisen.
The state-controlled Russian news agency Tass writes that Russian forces will practice missile formations that will increase the readiness of the Russian forces. Tass and other Russian websites do not write anything about whether a test explosion will actually be carried out.
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Takes a strong distance
– We must distance ourselves strongly from such rhetoric, says Defense Minister Gram.
The Minister of Defense says that the biggest change Norway has seen is the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, and that Russia is withdrawing from disarmament agreements.
– It is very worrying, says Gram to Ukrainapodden.
Also read: Expert sounds the alarm: – Danger of a Russian breakthrough
No contact with Sjojgu
Defense Minister Gram says he has had no contact with Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defense minister.
– After 24 February 2022, contact between the countries will be reduced to a minimum. We have nevertheless maintained some channels. I think it makes sense to have some open channels to avoid misunderstandings, says Gram.
Also read: – An Achilles’ heel for the Russian Air Force
Norwegian F-16 soon on its way to Ukraine
Norway is one of the countries that will donate F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine. Earlier this year, Nettavisen was able to report that the US authorities have approved the transfer of 22 airframes from Norway to Ukraine.
Read more: The US has approved the transfer of 22 Norwegian F-16s to Ukraine
Gram says to Ukrainapodden that it is an enormous job to build up a brand new Ukrainian combat air force that will operate the F-16.
– When will the Norwegian-donated F-16 aircraft be in place in Ukraine?
– It is not certain that it will take a very long time. It is probably the case that they could fly the planes now, but they must also be able to be used in an appropriate way in interaction with the rest of the defence, says a secretive Gram.
He says that the airframes to be donated to Ukraine are in varying technical condition. Some of them require significantly more work than others to become battle-ready.
– Quite a lot is required to prepare each individual aircraft.
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Svalbard is Norwegian
In the last week, there have been several articles about increased Russian willingness to sabotage Europe. A potential target that has been highlighted is Svalbard.
Read more: Sounding the alarm about Putin’s plans for Europe: Will carry out sabotage
– Can you imagine a form of hybrid war on Svalbard?
– I must be absolutely precise: Svalbard is part of Norway, on the same lines as Oslo, or Steinkjer, where I come from. It must be defended in exactly the same way as the mainland, says Gram to Ukrainapodden.
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He says he does not want to speculate on different scenarios where Russia might want to influence or put pressure on Norway.
– When we have worked on the new long-term plan for the defence, it is to ensure our freedom of action, which is again about situational awareness with monitoring and presence in the north, something we have been concerned about, says Gram.
Also read: Top secret F-16 program: – No doubt that Russia is following along
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