Ukraine visit Germany supports Ukraine’s efforts to rebuild power grid
Press release 9 May 2024 | Development Minister Svenja Schulze today held several meetings with the Ukrainian government in Kyiv in preparation of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin in June. For this, she met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Energy Minister German Galuchenko. On the occasion of the visit, Germany and Ukraine today signed a cooperation on the reconstruction and expansion of the Ukrainian power grid. Other topics on the agenda were German and international support for the training of experts and strengthening municipalities for the task of reconstruction. .
Copyright© Thomas Köhler/photothek.de
Development Minister Svenja Schulze talking to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during her visit to Kyiv
Schulze said, “Ukraine needs a functioning power system to withstand the war and manage the reconstruction of the country. That is why, in recent weeks, Russia has been launching strikes against the energy infrastructure. Russia must not and will not be successful with that. That is why, today, I agreed with the Ukrainian government to continue our cooperation on rebuilding and expanding the power grid. Ukraine can rely on Germany to be at its side. I can see for myself that this support is getting to where it is urgently needed.”
Copyright© Thomas Köhler/photothek.de
The Ukrainian Minister for Energy, German Galuchenko, in conversation with Development Minister Svenja Schulze
In the context of German-Ukrainian energy cooperation, KfW today signed a grant agreement on behalf of the BMZ for 45 million euros with the public energy utility Ukrenergo. The BMZ funds are earmarked for repairing damaged parts of the power infrastructure and ensuring the grid is better protected, more efficient and less prone to attacks. Another goal is to ensure the grid can be connected to the European electricity grid. The new agreement builds on existing cooperation which involves the modernisation, repair and protection of transmission lines and substations and the integration with the European grid. There is additional cooperation in the energy sector on, for example technical advice, training of skilled workers, architects and engineers in the area of energy efficiency and financing for small and medium-sized companies, such as small wind farms.
A second focus of the meetings in Kyiv is the preparation for the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) which Germany and Ukraine will be hosting together in Berlin on 11 and 12 June. The URC is a forum that brings together all key international supporters to strengthen Ukraine’s economy and society.
The conference will not only assemble leading representatives from governments and the private sector; the intensive discussions will also include civil society and municipalities. A pre-conference took place in Kyiv today convening mayors and also attended by Minister Schulze. Strong municipalities for reconstruction is one of the key issues of recovery. Because, in the end, recovery happens at the level of cities and municipalities.
Minister Schulze is preparing a number of alliances for the URC. Similar to what the Ramstein format is for military support, these alliances are to coordinate and activate civilian support in key areas. This includes support for municipalities and an expert alliance, the SkillsAlliance for Ukraine. Other topics include support for SMEs as the backbone of the Ukrainian economy and empowering women. Women in particular face the challenge of having to learn new trades and professions and shoulder additional responsibilities while many of the country’s men are at the front.