Peter Frølich is stepping down as leader of Fritt Ukraina, a Norwegian organization that has provided substantial aid to Ukraine since the start of the conflict with Russia. The move comes as Frølich prepares to take on a new role leading the Norwegian Parliament’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, a position of significant influence in shaping the country’s foreign policy.
“It’s a tremendously time-consuming job, both of them,” Frølich told Aftenposten. “It’s also a question of roles – that it may be appropriate to maintain some distance between the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence and Fritt Ukraina.”
“This is about propriety,” Frølich said, adding that he believes it will be helpful to avoid questions about whether he is representing the Parliament or a volunteer organization when he travels to Ukraine in the future.
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Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Fritt Ukraina has been instrumental in delivering over a thousand vehicles, approximately 10,000 drones, and 30,000 sets of uniforms and shoes to support Ukraine’s defense efforts. The organization has raised and distributed an estimated 600 million Norwegian kroner (approximately $56 million USD) in aid.
All aid has been transported to Ukraine by Fritt Ukraina’s own personnel. Frølich himself has made 16 trips to the country, including one as a member of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee.
