European Commission supports Ukraine’s plans for post-war “green” reconstruction and further implementation of European Green Deal

The European Commission supports Ukraine’s plans for post-war “green” reconstruction and further implementation of the European Green Deal. This was stated by Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans during a meeting with Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Ruslan Strilets. Among other things, the parties discussed the restoration of Ukraine using green technologies, the European Green Deal, the impact of war on environment, EU’s assistance in development of the environmental sphere in Ukraine.

On January 9, Frans Timmermans visited Kyiv, where he had productive meetings with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal and other government officials.

At the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister for Restoration of Ukraine – Minister for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ruslan Strilets briefed Frans Timmermans on the impact of war on environment, Ukraine’s implementation of the Paris Agreement, and restoration of Ukraine’s infrastructure using “green” technologies. The parties also touched upon the idea of Green Grain Roads presented by Ukraine at the COP27.

“Indeed, it is now important for Ukraine and the world to establish prompt grain supply to those countries that depend on it. But the task of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources and the EU in this context is to prevent additional environmental pollution. One of the ways to solve this problem may be the launch of the Danube-Black Sea deep-water shipping route,” Ruslan Strilets said.

Frans Timmermans assured that the European Commission would become an active participant of negotiations between Ukraine and Romania in this issue. He also noted that the EU attached particular importance to documenting russian crimes on the territory of Ukraine and was ready to support Ukraine in this matter.

“President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated that 2023 should be the year of Victory over russian terror. We at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine not only believe in victory, but also do everything necessary to implement European environmental standards. I am glad that today Kyiv is hosting guests thanks to the professionalism of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, air defense forces, and the assistance of international partners. I am grateful to our international partners and personally to Frans Timmermans for the substantial support of Ukraine in these difficult times. I believe that our cooperation will lay the foundation for the development of Ukraine according to new standards,” Ruslan Strilets said.