Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha at a G7+ Ministerial Meeting on Ukraine Energy Sector Support Remarks September 23, 2024

 

Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha at a G7+ Ministerial Meeting on Ukraine Energy Sector Support

Remarks

September 23, 2024

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good morning, everyone, and welcome again to High-Level Week here in New York. I think many of us are starting this day with what is a vitally important meeting, one that is not only timely but, I would even say, urgent. And I first want to thank my friend, my partner, my co-chair, the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani – thank you so much, my friend, for doing this – and to welcome our other friend and colleague, the new foreign minister of Ukraine. Welcome. It’s very good to be with you today as well.

We have collectively, as G7 and other partner countries, worked to mobilize resources over the last couple of years for Ukraine, for its people, to ensure that they have the energy supplies that they need and that the country can deliver those supplies to the people who need them. Just over the last couple of years, going back to February of ‘22 and the Russian invasion, the G7+ countries have mobilized more than $4 billion. We’ve had new announcements just in the past month from Germany, from the Netherlands, and others. As for the United States, over $1.8 billion since February ‘22. Recently we’ve redirected $324 million toward emergency energy sector support, and as well we have the $500 million that were announced by Vice President Harris just this past June. And I was in Kyiv with my friend just a couple of weeks ago with additional announcements of support for more than $300 million.

Now, this money is important, but what it really means is it translates into practical necessities to help our Ukrainian friends get through the coming months, and particularly getting through the winter. We have once again not just the prospect but the reality of Putin weaponizing winter, weaponizing the weather, to use energy as a weapon in his efforts to subjugate Ukraine. And we know that the upcoming winter will be challenging, which is why our countries have been working together every single day to help ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to get through the winter.

So today we’ll discuss exactly where we are and where we need to go on an urgent basis in the days and weeks ahead – repairing and replacing things that are taken out by Russian bombs and missiles; protecting the different facilities on the grid; getting more power, distributed power, to Ukraine; mobilizing companies to make sure that they’re doing their part; working with the Europeans and the energy grid in Europe to make even more energy available to the Ukrainians. We’ll discuss these and other priorities as we head into the winter, but the bottom line is this: Every country around this table – and so many more – stand strongly and firmly with Ukraine. We’re determined to see Ukraine’s success. We’re determined to support its people as they face this ongoing aggression.

With that, Antonio.

FOREIGN MINISTER TAJANI: Good morning, everybody. Dear Secretary of State Blinken, dear Tony, thank you for organizing this timely meeting here in New York. It’s a great opportunity to discuss a very crucial issue for the people and the – of the – economy of Ukraine. I welcome the presence with us today of Minister Andrii Sybiha. Good luck. I am sure that we will have a fruitful cooperation.

I wish to express our solidarity with the Ukrainian Government and the people for the current intense Russian attacks to the energy infrastructures. The arrival of the winter is imminent, and we are very concerned by this situation. And we reaffirm our support to Ukraine and its energy sector.

Energy security is also at the top of our G7 resiliency. It was a very important item at the G7 foreign minister meeting in Capri last April. Ukraine will have a special place also at the G7 meeting that I will host in Fiuggi, in Italy, in November. We will host the Ukraine recovery conference in 2025. The energy sector will play an important role. Italy is strongly engaged on this on the bilateral level since the start of our – of the war. We provided several hundred tons of materials, including generators. Important Italian companies contributed with important donations.

In February we signed an agreement in Munich with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; it’s a 200-million Euro project to restore the capacity of the main hydropower generation Ukraine company. We are working for the parliamentary ratification. In Berlin, we have announced a grant of 50 million Euro for urgent measures to repair Ukraine’s energy infrastructures. Our companies are ready to give their contribution and know-how.

Dear Andrii, count on me, count on Italian Government. Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Andrii.

FOREIGN MINISTER SYBIHA: Dear friends, dear colleagues, let me express gratitude for your strong leadership, for your strong support, for your strong solidarity. By providing Ukraine with energy assistance, you are also providing additional energy to our people, to our fight. Russia continues its brutal strikes against our energy objects and against our energy system – endangering even nuclear facilities – and weaponizes energy around the world. But the leadership of G7 countries can help us to stop the aggressor, to stop Russia missile (inaudible).

We do really appreciate your support.