Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for $843 million in aid to support the country’s critical infrastructure this winter.
In a virtual address at a conference in Paris, Zelensky said Ukraine required critical electrical infrastructure, as well as urgent imports of electricity from European countries “at least until the end of the heating season.”
“This will cost about 800 million euros … but the price is less than the cost of the blackout,” he warned.
Russia has been repeatedly accused of using “winter as a weapon of war” in Ukraine in recent weeks, relentlessly striking critical infrastructure and leaving millions of Ukrainians without access to electricity, water and central heating in freezing temperatures.
The 46 countries and 24 international organizations which gathered in Paris on Tuesday are expected to commit to providing immediate support to Ukraine, focusing on the winter period.
France will commit an additional $80.7 million of humanitarian aid, according to a statement from President Emmanuel Macron’s office, of which $51.1 million will be dedicated to energy, access to water, food, health and transport infrastructure, as well as demining operations.
This will include 63 new high-powered electrical generators being provided to Ukraine in the very near future, the statement said.
So far the conference has seen $421.6 million committed to Ukraine, the statement said, adding that the figure is expected to increase.
