Zelenskyy honors late Norway's King Harald V for support of Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine expressed condolences over the death of Norway's King Harald V, who passed away on August 28 at the age of 89. In a statement on X, Zelenskyy extended his condolences to the Royal House of Norway and the Norwegian people, stating that his thoughts were with the royal family and the Norwegian people during their time of mourning.

Zelenskyy praised King Harald V for his unwavering commitment to his country and for his steadfast support of Ukraine during the darkest days of Russia's aggression toward Ukraine. The late king's visit to a refugee reception center in Norway to meet with Ukrainians who had been forced to flee their homes due to Russian aggression served as a symbolic gesture of solidarity with Ukraine.

In December 2023, King Harald V visited Ukraine at the Royal Palace in Oslo, where he was accompanied by his wife Queen Sonja and then-Crown Prince Haakon along with Crown Princess Mette-Marit. During his public remarks, the late king repeatedly emphasized Russia's aggression against Ukraine and stressed the need to support Ukrainian citizens.

Following his death, King Harald V's son, Haakon, ascended to the throne as the new king of Norway, taking the name Haakon VIII.