Zelenskyy appeals for help with Ukraine's energy network as recovery conference opens
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed for short-term help in repairing his country’s electricity network and long-term investment in its energy system
BERLIN — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday appealed for short-term help in repairing his country's electricity network and long-term investment in its energy system at a conference to gather support for Ukraine's recovery from the destruction wreaked by Russia’s war.
Starting a week of intense diplomacy that will also see him travel to the Group of Seven summit of Ukraine's leading Western allies in Italy and a global peace summit in Switzerland, Zelenskyy also renewed his calls for more help in repelling missile attacks by Russian forces. Hours later, Zelenskyy thanked Germany for its support in a speech to lawmakers in Berlin.
The two-day Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin follows up on a similar gathering in London a year ago.
The German hosts say it is bringing together 2,000 people from national and local politics, business and other areas, arguing that the task of supporting Ukraine’s recovery is too big for governments alone.
Among other immediate problems, sustained Russian attacks on Ukraine's power grid in recent weeks have forced energy companies to institute nationwide rolling blackouts.
Zelenskyy told the conference that, in the coming month, Ukraine needs equipment for heating and electricity plants that are currently out of action. “This will allow us to respond to the situation here and now,” he said.
According to the president, nine gigawatts of electricity generating capacity have been destroyed — including 80% of thermal power and one-third of hydroelectric power — while the peak consumption in Ukraine last winter
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