 Russia is gaining an advantage in Ukraine, the threat to Europe is increasing. Norway warns. Russia's forces are gaining the advantage in the war in Ukraine, Norway's intelligence service has warned. In an annual risk report, the head of the military intelligence unit, Nils Andreas Stensones, said its advantage in troop numbers and materials supplied by countries like China and North Korea meant Moscow was in a stronger position than a year ago. Stensones said Ukraine would need extensive Western military aid to turn the situation around. In this war, Russia is currently in a stronger position than it was a year ago and is in the process of gaining the advantage. Stensones told reporters. He said Russia could mobilize around three times more troops than Ukraine that Moscow is tackling sanctions better than expected and its industry can now produce enough munitions, combat vehicles, drones and missiles to enable its troops to maintain their war effort all year. Russia is also receiving military support from North Korea, Iran, Belarus and China, he said. China had not supplied arms but machines, vehicles, electronics and spare parts needed by Moscow's arms industry. Extensive Western weapons aid would be needed for Ukrainian forces to be able to defend themselves and regain the initiative in the conflict, Stensones said. He highlighted Kyiv's requests for munitions, long-range weapons, air defenses, tanks and fighter jets. Norway has, together with Denmark and the Netherlands, agreed to provide Ukraine with the F-16 fighter jets it has requested from its allies. Norway and Europe must be ready to take more responsibility to ensure their own security and that of their allies. Norwegian Defence Minister Bjorn Arild Gram said.