Ukraine: von der Leyen in Kiev, “Russia is trying to plunge your country in the dark, the EU is here to help you in this challenge to keep the lights on, to keep your people warm”

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“Thank you for welcoming me again in Kyiv. This is now the eighth time that I have been here since the brutal invasion of Russia in Ukraine and this visit comes at a crucial time. Winter is approaching and Russia keeps targeting your civilian energy infrastructure in a blatant and vicious way to try and plunge your country in the dark”. This are the words of Ursula von der Leyen, who is in Ukraine’s capital today to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and discuss a plan to help Ukraine face the winter. 80% of the electrothermal power plants and one third of the hydroelectric power plants have been destroyed by Russian drones and missiles. But, von der Leyen said at the press conference, “the European Union is here to help you in this challenge to keep the lights on, to keep your people warm” and “to keep your economy going, as you fight for your survival”. Then, the President explained the European Commission’s action plan to tackle the energy requirements. “Repair, connect and stabilise” are the three working methods. By repairing as much as possible what has been hit and by connecting Ukraine with the EU, 25% of such requirement should be covered. To “stabilise”, the plan includes the supply of renewable energies and mobile gas turbines. Then, Von der Leyen announced an allocation of 160 million euros, with 100 million coming from proceeds from Russian assets immobilised in the EU: to “make Russia pay for the destruction it caused”. A loan of 35 billion euros is also ready, also coming from proceeds from immobilised Russian assets. “You will decide how best to use the funds, giving you maximum flexibility to meet your needs”, so that the available national resources may be spent “to strengthen, for example, your military capabilities and to defend yourself against the Russian aggression”. Again, the EU will support the Ukrainian army and defence industry “to purchase equipment from Ukraine for Ukraine”, with a hub connecting the Ukrainian and EU defence industries. Finally, again, in Kiev von der Leyen spoke of the accession: “It will be and remains one of my priorities, also in the next term”. While the 1000th day of aggression is drawing close, the President concluded, speaking to Zelensky, “we are daunted by Ukraine’s enduring bravery. And we can only try to match it with our enduring friendship and solidarity, and the prospect of a peaceful future for Ukraine in the European Union”.

Fonte: Agensir