Zelenskyy warns winter at risk as €90 billion EU loan delayed
Ukraine risks failing to prepare its energy system and physical protection of critical infrastructure for next winter due to delays in a €90 billion European Union loan, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Follow us on Google
Winter at risk: Zelenskyy speaks on the blocked €90bn in EU loan / © Associated Press / © Associated Press
Zelenskyy outlined funding areas that could be affected if the loan is not approved, speaking at a joint press conference with Bulgaria’s acting Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov.
The president said pensions and salaries for ordinary Ukrainians should not be affected by the blocked tranche.
«Today, salaries for people are being paid, funding for the army is in place, pensions are being paid. I believe we are working quite well,» he said.
Winter preparations at risk
The president acknowledged that Ukraine could fail to prepare for next winter because €45 billion from the package had been expected this year.
«The biggest risks are preparation for winter, because there is a global energy protection plan for energy and water supply systems. The plan is designed so that by winter we complete everything, at least physical protection, as well as various air defense protection formats,» the head of state said.
According to him, $5.1 billion is needed for these needs.
«We expected that this amount would be fully or partially covered by these funds, because protection is part of our defense capability. So €45 billion — we understood that we had 28 plus 17, with 28 for the budget and 17 for defense. Today we see that this is currently blocked. I believe the risks are precisely in the energy sector. Why? Because this is a long-term process and it needs to start as soon as possible,» Zelenskyy said.
He noted that in March all Ukrainian regions, including the capital, approved resilience plans. Active work on their implementation had been expected to begin from April 1.
«And we must build everything from April 1, we must begin work. We are starting, but it is not a mass rollout because these funds are not available. And therefore this delay is a risk for winter,» the president acknowledged.
Zelenskyy added that the Cabinet of Ministers has now been tasked with finding funding from multiple sources.
«I think parliamentarians will work on some laws that are linked to the relevant sums — this will also help us,» he said.
Zelenskyy also noted that the decision on the €90 billion EU loan, or more precisely its first €45 billion tranche, must be taken by European leaders.