In a significant move to bolster its energy security for the upcoming winter, Ukraine has finalized a gas import agreement with Greece, as announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday.
Strategic Energy Partnership
Zelenskyy emphasized that this deal represents “another gas supply route to secure imports for the winter as much as possible.” The agreement is expected to cover nearly €2 billion, aimed at compensating for losses incurred in Ukrainian gas production due to ongoing Russian military strikes.
During his visit to Athens, Zelenskyy met with Greek President Konstantinos Tasoulas and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to discuss further collaboration and support. This visit follows his planned trip to France on Monday, where he aims to negotiate a deal to significantly enhance Ukraine’s combat aviation and air defense capabilities.
International Support and Future Collaborations
Following his meetings in Greece, Zelenskyy is set to travel to Spain on Tuesday. He praised Spain as “another strong country that has joined the partners in the initiatives that really help us,” although he did not specify any particular agreement with Madrid.
“Our top priorities today are air defense, systems and missiles for air defense,” Zelenskyy stated.
The funding for the gas import deal with Greece will come from various sources, including Ukrainian government funds, European banks backed by guarantees from the European Commission, and support from Ukrainian banks, alongside assistance from “European partners” and Norway. Additionally, Ukraine is actively engaging with partners in the United States to strengthen its energy resilience.
Moreover, Zelenskyy noted ongoing discussions with Poland and Azerbaijan regarding energy supplies, expressing optimism about establishing long-term contracts to further secure Ukraine’s energy needs.