Zelensky: "Preparing to Expand Electricity Exports to the EU... Will Help Stand Against Russia"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the 27th (local time) that "Ukraine is ready to increase electricity exports to the European Union (EU)."

In a national address that day, President Zelensky stated, "Despite being at war, Ukraine connected its power grid to the entire European energy system in a short period of time." He added, "By earning foreign currency through electricity exports, we hope to help our partners withstand Russia's energy pressure."

He also said, "Based on domestic power production, we will gradually make Ukraine a guarantor of European energy security."

Ukraine's plan to expand electricity exports to Europe came as Europe's energy crisis approached due to Russia's successive reductions in supplies such as natural gas. Shortly after Russia's invasion, in mid-March, Ukraine began integrating its power grid with Europe, and in April, the state-owned power company Ukrenergo joined the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) as an observer. Through this process, Ukraine started exporting electricity to Europe via the Romanian power grid from the 30th of last month.