The EU has to provide Ukraine with energy production capacity and at the same time provide air defence capacity to protect the country’s energy infrastructure – Borrell

The European Union has to increase the supply of energy equipment for Ukraine and at the same time provide air defence capacity to protect the country’s energy infrastructure, stated EU High Representative Josep Borrell today in New York during a press conference following an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, as reported by a Ukrinform correspondent.

“In order to support Ukraine, the European Commission has come up with a proposal to raise up to €35 billion in a loan to support Ukraine, both militarily and economically. Both things have to be done at the same time. It does not make sense to provide Ukraine with an electricity generator today, if it will be destroyed tomorrow. It is not just “destroy and replace”. We cannot replace everything being destroyed, because it will be an endless process. So, we have to provide Ukraine with electricity generation capacity, with energy production capacity. One Member State is taking a power plant and taking it into pieces and sending to Ukraine to be reconstructed inside Ukrainian territory. At the same time, we have to provide air defence capacity, in order to avoid these capacities being destroyed as soon as they are being put into work,” stated Josep Borrell.

The EU High Representative noted that the aforementioned proposal from the European Commission regarding the allocation of a new loan of €35 billion to Ukraine still needs to be officially approved by member states at the level of the EU Council.

Borrell reminded that the difficult situation in Ukraine’s energy sector was discussed among G7+ ministers, chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha. According to the EU High Representative, the situation is severe. No civilized and industrialized country can survive without energy and electricity. Ukraine has lost the capacities of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently occupied by Russian forces, and has lost up to two-thirds of its generating capacity – around 9 gigawatts – due to Russian bombings and missile strikes on critical infrastructure.

“We need to provide Ukrainians with more air defence capabilities, as well as more means to strike back at the Russians from where they are attacking the Ukrainians. Otherwise, the Russians will continue to do this with complete impunity,” said the EU High Representative.

In response to journalists’ questions, he noted that he personally believes it is necessary to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western weapons against legitimate targets on Russian territory, but most EU countries view such authorisation as an internal matter.

“We will continue to discuss this, particularly at the G7 level. In any case, member states of the EU consider this issue to fall within their national competence. Some have already made such a decision, some have not or do not wish to, and others may have made a decision but have not yet discussed it. In any case, here in the U.S., we will talk about it. My position is in favour of such authorisation,” Borrell said.

As Ukrinform previously reported, the 79th session of the UN General Assembly has commenced in New York. On September 22-23, prior to high-level discussions, a Summit for the Future was held, during which countries agreed on a so-called Pact for the Future, outlining key areas for UN reform and enhancing its effectiveness.

The general debate of the 79th session of the General Assembly opened on Tuesday, September 24, will continue through Saturday, September 28, and conclude on Monday, September 30, 2024. The theme for the general debate of the 79th session of the General Assembly is “Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations”.

ukrinform