The Netherlands will allocate 209.5 million euros (approximately $233 million) to Ukraine for critical infrastructure restoration and humanitarian aid, according to the Dutch Foreign Minister following a meeting with G7 foreign ministers in New York.
The G7 foreign ministers are meeting in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Their discussions likely focus on pressing global issues such as the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, climate change, and economic challenges.
Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said that the Netherlands is contributing 45 million euros ($50 mn) to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund and financing the delivery of necessary equipment.
“Ukrainians are preparing for one of the harshest winters, and for Ukraine to endure, it needs energy,” Veldkamp said.
The minister emphasized the need for coordinated efforts: “At today’s meeting with G7 foreign ministers and partners, including (Ukrainian Foreign Minister) Andriy Sybiha, I stressed that we must join forces to ensure this.”
Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the country’s energy system due to significant damage from Russia’s massive attacks, particularly one of the largest energy infrastructure attacks on 26 August. The ministry reports that Russian forces continue daily shelling of energy infrastructure objects.
According to the ministry, Russia has launched over a thousand strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure facilities since October 2022. This year alone, these attacks have resulted in the loss of 9 GW of generating capacity.
The United Nations mission recently said that Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have caused considerable damage and could lead to even more devastating consequences as winter approaches.
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