Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met to sign a memorandum of understanding aimed at bolstering Ukraine's energy resilience. This agreement comes as part of ongoing efforts by the United States and other countries to support Ukraine amidst continued aggression from Russia.
Blinken highlighted the urgency of this initiative, stating, "We and so many other countries are determined to do everything we can to continue to help Ukraine build energy resilience." He emphasized that this effort is crucial as "Putin continues to weaponize the winter with horrific strikes on the entire energy grid."
The memorandum aims to ensure that damaged energy grids in Ukraine are repaired, replaced, and protected. It also seeks to enhance Ukraine's generative capacity and integrate it further with the European energy grid. Blinken noted progress on these fronts and reiterated the commitment of both the United States and its allies.
Foreign Minister Sybiha expressed gratitude for this collaboration during challenging times, acknowledging that "this document is really very important" for Ukraine as it faces daily missile attacks from Russia. He pointed out that these attacks have now extended to nuclear energy facilities, posing a significant risk.
Sybiha appreciated Blinken's personal support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. He praised recent decisions on sanctions as strong measures necessary for achieving peace with Russia.
Following their remarks, both officials signed the memorandum of understanding.
