– He understands what is at stake – VG

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– All countries in Europe ought to sacrifice some thing for the liberty of Ukraine. We also have to sacrifice some thing.

This is what Oslo metropolis council leader Raymond Johansen tells VG on the cellphone from the bus from Ukraine to Poland.

– I realize that it appears like clichés, but this is a litmus exam of how high we have set our values ​​and that absolutely nothing is received the moment and for all, carries on Johansen.

On Friday, the town council leader visited Ukraine and he achieved the president of the region, Volodymyr Zelenskyjjointly with 7 European mayors.

He visited the cities of Butsja and Irpin, which experienced good destruction.

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It will enable with the reconstruction

In addition, the metropolis council leader met with Kiev mayor Vitaly Klitschko, who, in accordance to Johansen, said he feared the war would get a lot less awareness from other European countries.

The vacation gave Raymond Johansen a new being familiar with of the severity of war.

– You fully grasp what is at stake, even for our everyday living. Imagine that an attacker, our neighbor, need to arrive in and be allowed to choose the land. You almost have to be there to appreciate seriousness, he states.

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Johansen is a board member of the Eurocities corporation, with 200 European towns. For the duration of the assembly, they signed an arrangement to aid rebuild after the war.

– Ukrainians are anxious that men and women have to return and hence ought to have a little something to return to, says Johansen.

The Oslo municipality, like other cities, demands to come up with concrete ideas on how to enable Ukraine with the reconstruction of houses, kindergartens, educational facilities, sewage units and other municipal infrastructure.

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I think the concentration on the price of electrical power can guide to division

Now he and the 7 European mayors are on their way home and the debate on electricity costs is on the agenda in quite a few areas.

– The potent focus on electrical power and energy price ranges influences the complete of Europe, can direct to divisions and that we are a lot less serious with Putin, he says, citing Italy as an case in point.

There, the far-right Fratelli d’Italia party is probably to gain the elections, and by a slim margin the country’s first radical correct-wing prime minister since Environment War II.

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– Do you see the electrical power discussion in Norway as trivial?

– When compared to that, of study course. Most factors are mundane when we can get rid of our independence, suggests Johansen.

– It’s also huge ample for those who get significant electric power and food rates critically, but if there is a single country that has the muscle mass to resolve it, it truly is Norway, he adds.

Warns you don’t have “adequate with on your own”

The chief of the Oslo city council warns towards nation-states that conclude up “acquiring plenty of with themselves”, and for that reason do not give adequate assist to Ukraine.

– Lots of national leaders across Europe now worry losing elections to populists owing to high electrical energy rates, fuel selling prices, food items costs and rising interest premiums. In the worst case, it could go past the willingness to support the Ukrainians’ battle with revenue and weapons, he says and adds:

– I am frightened of the straightforward populism and nationalism that will characterize all debates. I am terrified of this, of both of those left and proper populism in Norway and somewhere else, says Johansen.

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– You talked about Italy, but is the discussion like this in Norway?

– Luckily we are not at the stage of Italy, but to believe that the situation we have in Europe does not have an affect on us is very naive. It really is just bullshit. Norway is not an island and Oslo is not an island.

Read also: To get motion versus the closure of electrical energy exports to Europe: – I do not want to be prime minister in Norway

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Volodymyr Zelenskii commented on the visit on his Telegram account.

– Thanks to European cities for welcoming our folks who fled the war. We will also be grateful for the assist in restoring housing, information and facts composition and disorders for the return of Ukrainians. It is crucial that the reconstruction begin now, not just after the war, the president wrote on Friday night.

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