EU planning increased support for Ukraine's energy infrastructure and air defenses

"The European Commission... has come up with a proposal to accumulate a loan of €35 billion ($39 billion) to support Ukraine both in the military dimension and in the economy," EU High Representative Josep Borrell said during a press conference in New York following an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, news agency Ukrinform reported.

“Both things have to be done simultaneously. There is no point in providing Ukraine with electrical generation today if it is going to be destroyed tomorrow — this would be an endless process. So we have to provide Ukraine with the capacity to produce electricity and energy capabilities, and at the same time, air defense means to avoid the destruction of these capabilities within a few days.”

The European official pointed out that the mentioned proposal by the European Commission to allocate a new €35 billion credit to Ukraine still needs to be officially approved by the member states at the level of the EU Council.

Borrell recalled that the current difficult situation in Ukraine's energy sector was discussed at the level of G7+ ministers under the chairmanship of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

The situation, according to the EU High Representative, is difficult. No civilized and industrial country can survive without energy and electricity. Ukraine has been deprived of the capacities of the Zaporizhzhya NPP, which is currently seized by Russian troops, and has lost up to two-thirds of its generating capacities, amounting to about 9 gigawatts, due to Russian bombing and missile strikes on critical infrastructure.

"We have to provide the Ukrainians with more air defense capabilities, as well as more capabilities to attack the Russians in the places from where the Russians are attacking them, the Ukrainians. Otherwise, the Russians will do this with complete impunity," said the European diplomat.

Responding to journalists' questions, Borrell noted that he personally considers it necessary to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of Western weapons for legitimate targets on Russian soil, but most EU countries consider such permission an internal matter.

"We will continue to discuss this, in particular, at the G7 level," said the official.

“In any case, the member states consider this issue to be within their national competence. Some of them have already made such a decision, some have not made or do not want to make it, others, probably, have made it but have not yet said so. In any case, here in the USA, we will discuss this. My position is in favor (of such permission).”

The EU has made a significant contribution to the support of the Ukrainian energy sector over the past 2.5 years, and recently allocated €100 million ($111 million) to prepare for winter in Ukraine, according to the Ambassador of the European Union to Ukraine, Katarína Mathernová.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union will allocate €160 million ($178 million) to support Ukraine's energy security ahead of winter.