Zelenskiy's aircraft nearly struck by drone en route to Norway, PM says
Norwegian PM says a drone nearly hit Zelenskiy's plane during takeoff from Moldova on Tuesday.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere has disclosed that the aircraft carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy narrowly avoided a collision with a drone on Tuesday. The incident occurred as the presidential plane was departing from Moldova, en route to Oslo for the funeral of King Harald V.
Speaking to public broadcaster NRK on Wednesday, Stoere described the episode, saying, "His plane was almost hit by a drone as it was about to take off from Moldova. That is the reality he is facing." The Prime Minister did not elaborate on the source of his information or specify how close the drone came to the aircraft.
Zelenskiy arrived in Norway and participated in the funeral procession on Wednesday, walking behind the king's coffin alongside other heads of state in central Oslo. He departed the country shortly after the ceremony concluded.
Stoere had earlier announced plans to meet with Zelenskiy on Tuesday evening, with talks expected to center on strengthening Ukraine's air defense capabilities. The Ukrainian president also indicated that discussions were scheduled with companies involved in the Freyja initiative, a European project aimed at developing an anti-ballistic missile system.