Norway is a country with a strong Arctic identity and a NATO “listening post” in this strategically important region of the world. For decades, the basis of Norway's defence policy in the Far North has been a paradigm of, on the one hand, maintaining extensive defence capabilities in close cooperation within the North Atlantic Alliance, and on the other hand, “appeasing” Russia through close bilateral cooperation in the Arctic, especially in the economic sphere. As with other Nordic states, the perception of the threats coming from the world's largest state has definitely changed in the country after February 24th 2022. Norwegians are taking the possibility of an attack on their territory by the Russian Federation more and more seriously.

Europe is currently faced with a dilemma in its energy policy. While sanctions against Moscow have ended supplies from Russia, the EU and many member states are transitioning to more green energy sources. Given the current uncertainty facing the continent, a stronger energy partnership with Kyiv may be just the remedy.

Ukraine can play an important role in the European Union’s energy transition. A green agenda should be prioritised as a part of Ukraine’s post-war recovery. Its integration into the EU’s energy market and energy transition priorities should become key targets not just for the EU, but for other external donors and international financial institutions.

Russia’s latest invasion of Ukraine in February triggered a global energy crisis and has forced the European Union to speed up its vision for energy security. It has also broken down the barriers between energy security and climate policy. At the same time, Ukraine needs to review its own vision for energy security; as a candidate for EU membership it ought to enact binding targets to reduce its fossil fuel use. The EU’s climate target for 2030 was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than half compared to levels in 1990. This target is in line with the EU Green Deal objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

Green issues are usually not the first thing that comes to mind regarding Georgian politics. Despite this, the signing of a recent treaty shows that the country is starting to take climate change seriously. Tbilisi must subsequently make sure that such promises now result in real change.