Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine Hanna Lihun held a meeting with the Special Envoy of the President of the French Republic for Ukraine’s Relief and Reconstruction, Muriel Lacoue-Labarthe.
During the meeting, the Ukrainian side briefed French partners on the situation in the energy sector following the most challenging winter of the full-scale war and outlined key priorities for preparation for the next heating season.
The strategic priorities identified include the protection of critical infrastructure, restoration of damaged facilities, development of distributed generation, and the establishment of equipment reserves. Ukraine requires EUR 5.4 billion to implement these measures.
Particular attention was paid to France’s contribution to supporting the energy sector, including the delivery of 48 humanitarian shipments (generators, power transformers, specialized equipment, and cable products), as well as EUR 5.7 million contributed to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.
Within the framework of the Fund, a Strategic Reserve has already been established with an available budget of EUR 197 million. This mechanism enables the accumulation of equipment for rapid repair works and enhances the resilience of the energy system in the face of potential attacks during the next heating season.
The French side reaffirmed its readiness to continue supporting Ukraine and informed about the delivery of an additional batch of assistance. It also emphasized active coordination with international partners, particularly within the G7+ format.
The parties discussed current energy sector needs, joint recovery and modernization projects, the development of distributed generation, integration into EU energy markets, as well as cooperation in the nuclear sector.
