Restoration of the energy sector and strengthening Ukraine’s air defence – key topics of the meeting between Yulia Svyrydenko and Mark Rutte
The provision of assistance by NATO member countries for the restoration of Ukraine’s energy sector and the strengthening of Ukraine’s air defence were the main issues discussed during a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
“I welcome NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to Ukraine at a moment when our country is once again enduring a massive russian assault on civilian life and critical energy infrastructure. I am grateful for the Secretary General’s clear solidarity with Ukraine and for his unequivocal condemnation of russia’s attempt to weaponize winter. Since the beginning of this year alone, russia has carried out 217 attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities using missiles and drones of various types,” emphasised Yulia Svyrydenko.
According to the Head of the Ukrainian Government, during the meeting, the parties discussed urgent assistance that NATO member countries could provide to restore Ukraine’s energy sector, including through the EADRCC mechanism – the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre. “Equipment from our partners will significantly help restore our networks and gas infrastructure damaged by enemy attacks,” noted the Prime Minister.
The parties also paid particular attention to the need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence with additional systems and missiles for them, in order to protect people, cities and critical infrastructure.
“The PURL initiative has proven its effectiveness, and we ask our allies and partners to increase their contributions,” stressed Yulia Svyrydenko.
According to her, Ukraine is deepening cooperation within the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) initiative and the NATO–Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre (JATEC).
“russia seeks to break resilience through terror. The experience of our Defence Forces is already helping to strengthen our NATO partners and the collective security of the continent,” emphasised Yulia Svyrydenko.