As a result of a meeting held by the President of Ukraine with government representatives and the largest state-owned energy companies and regulators, the Cabinet of Ministers is establishing a task force to prepare for the next heating season, announced Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his address.
He said that the stakeholders discussed the purchase of sufficient gas supplies for the heating season, coal reserves, and electricity production.
"In current conditions created by russia's aggression, it will be the most difficult winter in all the years of independence. But! All right. We have to get by so that our people feel the normal functioning of the state," Zelenskyy said.
The President clarified that at this time, there would be no sale of our gas and coal abroad; all domestic production will be directed to the domestic needs of our citizens.
"At the same time, we are doing everything we can to increase our electricity export capabilities. It is possible withing the existing capacities of Ukraine. And after the historic accession of our country to the synchronous power grid of Europe, such exports allow us to increase our foreign exchange earnings and directly affect the stabilization of the energy situation in neighboring countries, which reduce their consumption of russian energy," said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The President also spoke about the repair program for thermal power plants and boiler houses, particularly those damaged or destroyed by russian strikes. Implementation of this program in the coming months is one of the top tasks for the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that he had set a task for the government to do everything possible to ensure that gas and electricity tariffs do not change in the next heating season.
"Local authorities are responsible for tariffs for heat and hot water, and the same level of tariffs must be ensured at the local level in the winter of 2022-2023," the President said.
Zelenskyy also said that the team of diplomats is tirelessly working to gain Ukraine the status of a candidate for EU membership. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs team and other government officials are working to make this expected by everyone historic decision in June.
According to the President, the frontline situation in Ukraine has not changed significantly over the past 24 hours. The incredibly heroic defense of Donbas continues. The hottest spots are Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Popasna.
More than 31,000 russian servicemen have already died in Ukraine. Since February 24, russia has been paying around 300 lives of its soldiers daily for completely senseless war against Ukraine.
According to Volodymyr Zelensky, one of the tools for financing the reconstruction of Ukraine is the state fundraising platform UNITED24. In the first month of work, it has already raised more than 1.5 billion hryvnias.
Renowned Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina became the second ambassador of the fundraising platform UNITED24, initiated by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.