Paris: President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday said Ukraine needed emergency aid for its energy sector totalling around 800 million euros to help his country survive Russia’s bombing of its civilian infrastructure.
Failing to make an impact on the battlefield in its war, Moscow has switched tactics since October when it began air strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy network, plunging millions into cold and darkness at the onset of winter.
The alarm over Ukraine’s ability to cope comes nine months into the Russian assault against its neighbour, which has seen Moscow make only slight territorial gains in the face of fierce Ukrainian resistance.
Zelensky made the request for 800 million euros at international conference in Paris designed to raise material and money to repair Ukraine’s damaged infrastructure.
It is hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron with whom he has sometimes had testy ties.
“Of course it is a very high amount, but the cost is less than the cost of a potential blackout,” Zelensky told the gathering in Paris via video link.
“I hope that decisions will be made accordingly.” Zelensky said that Ukraine needed transformers, equipment to repair damaged high-voltage power lines, as well as generators and gas turbines.
“Because of the destruction of our power plants by terror attacks we will need to use more gas this winter than expected,” added Zelensky, whose wife Olena attended the conference in person. Zelensky urged G7 nations on Monday to provide “about two billion cubic metres” of additional gas to get through the winter as well as more tanks and missiles to fight the war.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal also appealed for help from the 70 states and international agencies gathered in Paris for the “Standing with the Ukrainian People” conference.
— AFP
