Ukraine, EU discuss energy issues, more Russian sanctions

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine’s prime minister and a senior European Commission official discussed energy issues and further sanctions against Russia during a meeting in the capital Kyiv on Monday.

“We are working on strengthening Ukraine’s energy sustainability. Key issues were discussed today in Kyiv with the Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Frans Timmermans,” Denys Shmyhal said in a Telegram post.

Shmyhal said Ukraine is actively working with the EU to support efforts in four areas; the demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, supply of electrical equipment, import of electricity from the EU, and sanctions against Russia.

“We expect that the 10th package will contain restrictions against Russia’s nuclear industry, in particular Rosatom,” said Shmyhal, stressing that Moscow “must be punished for attacks on Ukraine’s energy industry and crimes against ecology.”

On Dec. 15, the EU agreed on a ninth sanctions package against Moscow, which included blacklisting around 200 individuals and entities and three banks, along with restrictions on mining investments in Russia.

The package also banned the export of dual-use goods to Russia.

Shmyhal said he also discussed Ukraine’s reconstruction, noting that Kyiv has “significant potential in the field of alternative energy, which will help Europe quickly abandon Russian fossil resources.”

He thanked Timmermans “for the initiative to start a strategic partnership between Ukraine and the EU in the field of renewable gases.”

“We expect to conclude a corresponding memorandum in the near future,” the statement concluded.​​​​​​​