Ukraine seeks U.S. financial support for energy reconstruction – Shmyhal
Damaged by Russian strikes on a thermal power plant in Ukraine (Photo: REUTERS/Gleb Garanich)
Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal met with U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright during a working visit to the United States, he said on March 25.
During the meeting, the sides discussed the situation in Ukraine’s energy system, which has been damaged by Russian attacks, and recovery priorities.
The Energy Ministry told NV Business that the talks included attracting $1.4 billion in loan support from the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. (DFC) to modernize energy equipment, primarily for gas production, as well as strengthening cooperation with the U.S. Export-Import Bank.
Particular attention was given to increasing gas and oil production in Ukraine with the involvement of U.S. companies. The sides also discussed the development of the Vertical Gas Corridor, the advantages of using Ukraine’s gas storage facilities and the development of the Odesa terminal for transporting oil to Europe.
Shmyhal also said Ukraine is holding talks with U.S. companies on alternative diesel supply sources. He stressed that Ukraine expects support on this issue from the administration.
The head of the Energy Ministry thanked the United States for its consistent support for Ukraine.
“We appreciate the recent decision to allocate an additional $276 million to support Ukraine’s energy sector. This assistance allows us not only to withstand challenges but also to build a new energy security system,” he said.
On Jan. 27, 2026, Stanislav Ihnatiev, head of the Ukrainian Renewable Energy Association council, said repairs of energy facilities damaged in the mass strikes of 2022–2023 are still ongoing, as restoring thermal power plants is a lengthy process due to complexity and equipment shortages.
He added that consumers will feel the full results of repairs at Kyiv’s CHP-5 and CHP-6 only in the next heating season, and that restoring full generation capacity by March is not possible.
On Feb. 3, Russian forces carried out the most powerful strike on Ukraine’s energy system since the start of the year.
Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said Russia attacked eight oblasts of Ukraine, using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones to strike residential buildings, combined heat and power plants, and thermal power plants operating solely in heating mode in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro.
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