The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has asked the European Union on Tuesday to increase electricity exports in view of the numerous power cuts suffered as a result of the bombings carried out in the framework of the Russian invasion of the territory.In a speech on the occasion of the international conference of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, organized by France and Ukraine, Zelensky said that the task "is to preserve the main energy system of Ukraine and to ensure operations despite Russia's attempts to turn Ukraine into the darkest place in Europe".
"That is why this format is necessary. We have to agree on concrete measures that will help not only Ukrainians to survive the winter, but also to demonstrate to any anti-European and anti-democratic forces that Europe has learned to prevent catastrophes and protect its people," he said, as reported by the Ukrainian presidency.
Thus, he stressed that the country needs equipment such as transformers and electric generators, as well as high voltage networks and turbines, among others. "Secondly, at least until the end of the winter, we will need emergency assistance from the European energy system," he said, before stressing that this includes the "supply of electricity from EU countries".
There have been calls for the European Union to increase its electricity production in order to meet the growing energy demands of its member states. The EU has set ambitious targets for increasing the share of renewable energy in its overall energy mix, and many experts believe that increasing the use of wind, solar, and other forms of clean energy will be crucial in achieving these goals. Additionally, there have been calls for the EU to invest more in energy efficiency and smart grid technology in order to reduce energy waste and increase the overall efficiency of the energy system. Overall, the EU is under pressure to balance the need to meet growing energy demands with the need to combat climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.