The President of the European Commission announced today that €160 million will be provided by the EU to help prepare for winter in Ukraine, including shelters and repairs, and also announced that she will travel to Kiev on Friday.
"Today I can announce that we will make an additional amount of around €160 million available for the winter [in Ukraine], including €60 million for shelters and heating, for example, as well as around €100 million for repairs and renewable energy", announced Ursula von der Leyen, speaking at a press conference at the institution's headquarters in Brussels.
The leader of the EU executive specified that the last €100 million "comes from the revenues from Russian assets immobilized in the European Union", in an allusion to the funds frozen in the EU following European sanctions on the Russian central bank.
Ursula von der Leyen stressed that it is "fair that Russia pays for the destruction it has caused", particularly in the energy sector, since it invaded the country in February 2022, arguing that the bloc will continue "to transfer part of the revenues from Russian immobilized assets to Ukraine's energy resilience".
"In two weeks' time, the heating season begins, with temperatures dropping, and the European Union is ready to step up its support for Ukraine. We are preparing together for winter and, after this press conference, I will travel to Kiev tomorrow [Friday] to discuss these issues in person with [Ukrainian] President Zelensky, as part of our efforts to help Ukraine", she also announced.
According to European sources, the trip will begin in Poland, where Ursula von der Leyen will travel this afternoon to assess the impact of the floods in the country, which could be the worst in 20 years in the Central Republic.
The official is expected to arrive in Kiev on Friday morning, according to the same sources.
Overall, European support for Ukraine's energy sector since February 2022 amounts to around two billion euros.
In a month's time, the conflict will mark 1,000 days and, according to data from Brussels, Ukraine currently needs 17 gigawatts of electricity capacity for this winter.
The plan announced today by the European Commission focuses on repair, interconnection and stabilization and, as regards the first element, 2.5 gigawatts of capacity is planned for this winter, equivalent to approximately 15% of Ukraine's needs.
In total, 80% of Ukraine's thermal power plants were destroyed by Russia, as was a third of its hydroelectric capacity.
Other support focuses on interconnection and, as Ukraine is now connected to the European grid, it will be possible to export two gigawatts of electricity to Ukrainian territory, covering around 12% of the country's needs during the winter.
In addition, more than 10,000 generators and power transformers donated by EU Member States have already been delivered to Ukraine, with further aid planned.
As regards stabilizing the flow of energy, the European Union wants to install solar panels in 21 hospitals in the country to ensure a continuous supply of energy.
Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been among the worst hit by Russian attacks, as on 26 August, for example, more than 230 missiles were launched during a 12-hour attack that hit power plants, substations and other essential equipment, leaving millions of Ukrainians without electricity for several hours.
Brussels wants to avoid similar situations, particularly given the low temperatures of the cold season in Ukraine.
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