This contribution will represent an important step in strengthening Ukraine’s ability to withstand russian attacks and ensure the uninterrupted operation of essential services. First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal stated this during his online address at the high-level conference “Winter in Ukraine: Next Steps”.

The event took place in Brussels with the participation of Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, and brought together representatives of the European Union, international financial institutions, and energy companies to coordinate support for Ukraine’s energy sector ahead of the next heating season.

During his online address, Denys Shmyhal expressed gratitude to international partners and emphasized that energy is a “system of systems,” while its protection must become an integral part of the energy architecture.

“Ukraine is currently moving towards a model of distributed generation and energy autonomy, where each element is capable of operating independently, and where reserve equipment and the speed of restoration become key security factors,” the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine – Minister of Energy noted.

Denys Shmyhal stressed that Ukraine’s participation in the European energy space strengthens Europe as a whole, while deeper energy diversification and the development of cross-border infrastructure constitute a shared response to today’s challenges.

The conference also featured important messages from international partners regarding Ukraine’s European integration, including the EU’s readiness to open Cluster 1 accession negotiations as early as June, with additional clusters expected to open in July this year.

“I sincerely thank everyone supporting Ukraine. Since the beginning of the year, we have received more than 3,200 units of energy equipment and over EUR 312 million in contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. Around 40 countries and international financial institutions have joined the broad coalition for winter resilience. I am particularly grateful to Norway for its contributions towards gas procurement for Ukraine, which is an important component of preparations for the next heating season,” Denys Shmyhal said, thanking international partners.