EU, 160 million euros for Ukraine from blocked Russian assets

2024-09-19 16:28:34, Kosova & Bota CNA

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Ukraine on Friday after Brussels' decision to allocate a new aid of 160 million euros, mainly for energy. The European Union estimates that about half of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been destroyed by Russian attacks. Ms von der Leyen says most of the funding will come from Russian assets in the EU that have been frozen due to Moscow's aggression. Devastation from ongoing Russian bombing has damaged heating systems in homes, hospitals and schools, as temperatures drop ahead of the war's third winter.

The European Union says that Russia must pay for the destruction it is causing in Ukraine.

The President of the European Commission Urusula von der Leyen announced today in Brussels that she will visit Ukraine on Friday with the promise of a new aid of around 160 million euros.

Most of this aid, according to Ms von der Leyen, comes from Russian assets that are kept frozen in the EU.

"This includes 60 million euros of humanitarian aid for shelters and heaters, among others. The decision also includes around 100 million euros for repairs and renewable energy. These 100 million euros come from Russian assets in the European Union," said Mrs. von der Leyen.

With the ongoing airstrikes, Russia has knocked out about 9 gigawatts of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which Ms von der Leyen said was equal to the energy needs of the three Baltic states.

The International Energy Agency, an autonomously operating intergovernmental organization based in Paris, said on Thursday that Ukraine could face a shortfall of 6 gigawatts this winter as peak electricity demand rises.

“Due to attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, two-thirds of Ukraine's energy production capacity was lost. We are approaching winter. As you know, when temperatures drop, energy demand increases and this could be a major issue for electricity and heating in Ukraine," said Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency.

A third of Ukraine's hydropower plants are also not working.

During today's conference, the EU chief also announced that a fuel-fired power plant is being dismantled in Lithuania to be sent to Ukraine.

"As we speak, a complete power plant is being dismantled in Lithuania and shipped piece by piece to Ukraine, with our support. It will then be rebuilt in Ukraine. This shows the readiness of the member states to support Ukraine", said Mrs. von der Leyen.

The European Union also announced that it will increase exports to supply Ukraine with electricity./ VOA