The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced this Friday that member states will provide two gigawatts of electricity to Ukraine, to compensate for the disruptions to the energy infrastructure caused by the bombings of the Russian Federation.
In the past, “it was Ukraine that exported electricity” to European Union (EU) countries, von der Leyen recalled at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, and European Council President, Charles Michel, in Kiev, as part of the summit between the EU and the country invaded by Russia almost a year ago.
“Ukraine needs electricity and we will supply it with the help of the Member States in two gigawatts. This is the solidarity face of Europe that we want to show,” insisted the Commission President.
Ursula von der Leyen believed that a “quick repair” of infrastructure “damaged by Putin’s bombs” is important. Therefore, the EU will move forward with a rapid recovery plan, which is “incorporated into the larger recovery process” in which the community bloc is involved.
The “first tranche” will be available soon to “ensure that recovery is on the ground as soon as possible,” von der Leyen completed, so that Ukraine can “start immediately” with the repair of buildings, roads, schools and hospitals that were destroyed by the bombings.
The President of the Commission, who together with Charles Michel represents the Heads of State and Government of the European Union – for security reasons – reinforced the idea that “the criminal must pay and be held accountable” for “war crimes”. .
Prosecutors in the European Union and Ukraine “are prepared” and there is “political will” to search for evidence of war crimes and find the guilty.
On Thursday, von der Leyen had announced that the tenth package of sanctions against Russia will be ready on February 24, the day marking a year since the start of the war, targeting “technology that cannot and should not be used” in Russian. weapons, namely “drone components”.
The EU will also extend protocols drawn up about a year ago to allow Ukraine to access European trade “without tariffs”.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has so far led to the flight of more than 14 million people – 6.5 million internally displaced persons and more than eight million to European countries – according to the most recent data from the UN. which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
Currently, 17.7 million Ukrainians need humanitarian aid and 9.3 million need food aid and shelter.
The Russian invasion – justified by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russian security – was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and Russia political and economic sanctions.
The UN presented 7,110 civilian deaths and 11,547 wounded as confirmed since the start of the war, underlining that these numbers are well below the real ones.
Source: DN
