EU to send 1,000 solar panels and generators to Ukraine

In view of Russia's attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, the country will receive €500 million to repair damaged energy facilities and 1,000 solar panels and generators, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during the first day of the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on 11 June.

Von der Leyen noted in her speech that "together we are mobilising financial strength to help Ukraine withstand and recover".

"This, of course, also includes ongoing material support in view of Russia's systematic attacks on Ukraine's energy system. So far, we have raised around €500 million for urgent repairs," she said.

"In addition, we are providing another 1,000 generators for urgent power generation. And thousands of solar panels are about to arrive in Ukraine," she added.

The EU's goal, as von der Leyen stressed, is to help decentralise Ukraine's energy system and thus increase its resilience.

In Berlin, von der Leyen also confirmed that Ukraine had completed all the necessary steps to start EU accession negotiations by the end of this month.

In addition, she said that the European Union would allocate €1.9 billion in support to Ukraine in June under the Ukraine Facility programme.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in Berlin that Ukraine planned to build up to 1 gigawatt of manoeuvrable gas generation capacity this year and another 4 gigawatts in the coming years.