Ukraine convenes Energy Ramstein – Sybiha
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiha announced new bilateral energy support packages from partners, as well as strengthening air defense in the near future.
Acting on instructions from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Foreign Ministry is working with all of Ukraine’s partners to secure additional contributions to strengthen the country’s energy sector. This week, Ukraine has already received a major $200 million package from Norway to purchase gas and equipment, he said, thanking the Norwegian people.
Additional bilateral energy support packages from other partners are expected in the near future, with announcements as early as Friday, he added in a Facebook post.
According to the minister, additional bilateral packages to strengthen air defense capabilities are also in the pipeline.
"New announcements will also be made tomorrow. The best assistance to Ukraine’s energy system is every Russian missile and drone that fails to reach its target," he said. Acting on instructions from Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, the Foreign Ministry and the Energy Ministry are convening an Energy Ramstein meeting, where Ukraine hopes to receive additional contributions and concrete commitments from allies.
Sybiha said Ukraine remains in constant contact with the European Energy Community to replenish the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and purchase equipment through the fund.
Italy has already begun delivering high-capacity industrial boilers ranging from 550 to 3,000 kilowatts, worth a total of EUR 1.85 million, which will help the hardest-hit communities, he said. Ukraine is also activating all international mechanisms, including the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, the Energy Charter and other international organizations.
He emphasized that all Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad have been instructed to mobilize donor support to the maximum extent possible to provide targeted assistance to the most affected regions and communities, including energy equipment.
"We are working at an emergency pace and under emergency conditions to mobilize the maximum possible support from our partners to counter Russia’s winter terror and to support our energy workers. They are heroes who are now doing the impossible — a fact recognized by our international partners and by the entire world. I sincerely thank all Ukrainian energy workers, on behalf of Ukrainian diplomats, for their selfless work — it is no coincidence that our professional holidays fall on the same date, December 22," Sybiha said.