The only way to achieve global security is to abandon any market relations with russia in the energy sector, as well as to pursue a "green" transition and energy efficiency. 

This was emphasised by the Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko during a Ministerial discussion at the 8th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency of the International Energy Agency (IEA), which is taking place in Paris. The event brought together energy ministers from over 30 countries.

The Minister of Energy stressed that currently Ukraine, together with other civilised countries, focuses its efforts on combating climate change and overcoming the energy crisis. At the same time, russia is deliberately undermining these efforts.

"To its war crimes and genocide, russia has added ecocide and a humanitarian catastrophe. With the terrorist attack on the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, russia has once again proved that it has no red lines. First, with their actions around the ZNPP, they disregarded all the principles of nuclear and radiation safety. And now we stand on the brink because of their outrage in the Kherson region," he said, adding that by destroying the Kakhovka HPP, russia deprived Ukraine of carbon-free hydroelectric generation capacity.

The Minister stressed that russia sought to intimidate the entire world with the war in Ukraine in order to continue using its advantage in energy markets to influence and manipulate other countries.

"However, thanks to European solidarity and support for Ukraine, the world abandons russian energy carriers. It is crucial to do the same with regard to russian nuclear fuel and russian nuclear technology. This is the only way to survive. We cannot even think about returning to russian oil or gas after the war. This is an illusion. Now is the best time for the world to make a "green" transition, to stop any trade with russia in the energy sector," emphasised German Galushchenko.

The Ministry of Energy noted that Ukraine clearly follows the goals of the "green" transition. The Energy Strategy until 2050 has defined the goals of fundamental transformation of the Ukrainian energy sector, according to which Ukraine should become a widely electrified country and achieve NetZero goals through the development of carbon-free generating capacities.

German Galushchenko added that this was the only way that both Ukraine and the entire civilised world should follow: "Energy efficiency is not only a climate issue, but also a security and independence issue."