By KYIV. Nov 14 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The European Union plans to transfer monthly assistance in the amount of EUR 1.5 billion to Ukraine in 2023, the country will decide on its own how much should be allocated for the restoration of its energy infrastructure damaged by the Russian war of aggression, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson has said.
"We have proposed the system of financing for Ukraine for the next year, and they will determine the priorities of their financial needs for the restoration of the energy infrastructure on their own. But, in general, it will provide Ukraine with a stable flow of assistance – EUR 1.5 billion per month," she said in an interview with Radio Liberty.
The European Commissioner said that the restoration of the energy infrastructure is definitely a priority for Ukraine, "because it will be very hard to survive without heating and electricity supply."
In addition, without waiting for the start of the direct process of financing, the EU together with the Energy Community have set up the Ukraine Energy Support Fund through which all interested countries of the world can join efforts in search and supply necessary energy equipment to Ukraine.
"In many cases it is not a question of financing, but the need for very specific equipment. The Energy Community and services address companies that might have this equipment in stock and we have already received several positive answers. The first transformers are on their way to replace the ones destroyed by Russian drones or missiles," she said.
Simson also noted that a number of international companies have confirmed a temporary priority for supplies of energy equipment to Ukraine.
