Ukraine has started to export electricity in a “significant” way to the European Union, via Romania, President Volodymyr Zekensky announced Thursday evening.
• Read also: Ukraine: ten dead in a missile attack on the Odessa region
• Read also: Trudeau will attend the G20 summit in Indonesia even if Putin goes there
• Read also: Ukraine: Russian army announces withdrawal from Serpents’ Island
“An important step in our rapprochement with the European Union was taken” Thursday, said the President of Ukraine, whose candidacy for the EU was endorsed last week by the Twenty-Seven.
Kyiv “has started to significantly export electricity to EU territory, to Romania”, he said in a video address, and “this is only a first step”.
“We are preparing to increase deliveries,” he added, stressing that “Ukrainian electricity can replace a considerable part of the Russian gas consumed by Europeans.
“It’s not just a question of export revenues for us, it’s a question of security for the whole of Europe,” he insisted.
The Ukrainian electricity network had been connected to the European network in mid-March, which should help the country to preserve its functioning despite the war.
Ukraine was synchronized with the Russian power grid until its invasion on February 24 and then operated autonomously.
“From today, Ukraine can export electricity to the EU market,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted on Thursday.
“It will bring an additional source of electricity for the EU. And much-needed income for Ukraine. So we are both winners,” she said.