Ukraine and the European Commission agreed to strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure and restore damaged facilities before the next winter. In addition, the EU will provide Ukraine with a €90 billion loan.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the agreements in a post on Telegram.
Details of Energy Agreements
During the meeting between Zelenskyy and EU leadership, they focused on protecting Ukraine’s power grid from Russian attacks. The plan includes repairing infrastructure, restoring damaged facilities, and developing decentralized energy generation. The goal is to ensure stable energy supply in the upcoming winters.
“This is one of the most important outcomes of our meetings yesterday, and its significance is hard to overestimate, especially given Russia’s constant attempts to disrupt normal life in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.
President Zelenskyy thanked Ursula von der Leyen and other EU leaders for their support, emphasizing that it is critically important for the lives of Ukrainians during the war.
Loan Details
The €90 billion loan will finance government operations, defense, security, and long-term peace. All EU countries support the loan, despite Hungary’s attempt to block it. Hungary demanded the restoration of oil transit through the Russia-damaged “Druzhba” pipeline.
Von der Leyen emphasized that the EU will provide the loan to Ukraine even considering Hungary’s veto. The first funding priorities will include military defense, such as drones, missiles, and other weapons.
Context
This agreement marks another significant step by the EU in supporting Ukraine on the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Previously, the EU provided a €100 million energy aid package and discussed additional sanctions against Russia.
Earlier, The Ukrainian Review reported that on the fourth anniversary of the war, Australia and the United Kingdom expressed support for Ukraine. Australia imposed its largest sanctions against Russia since 2022, while the UK allocated funds to support Ukraine.
