Ukraine seeks 30-year energy pact with Canada, minister says
- Ukraine aims to sign a 30-year strategic energy agreement with Canada, focusing on an "energy security bridge" for Canadian LNG supply, announced by Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal.
- The proposal follows talks between Ukrainian and Canadian leaders, including discussions on a $650 million Canadian grant to help Ukraine purchase gas for the upcoming winter amid ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
- Ukraine has recently restructured its government with preparations for winter security as a key driver, appointing Sergii Koretskyi as prime minister to enhance energy sector management.
- The two countries are also exploring cooperation on storing Canadian gas in Ukrainian facilities, procuring Canadian energy equipment, and developing small modular reactors to include in their long-term energy partnership.
Ukraine is looking to sign a 30-year strategic energy agreement with Canada and proposing an “energy security bridge” focused on the supply of Canadian LNG, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
The proposal, which Shmyhal discussed with Canadian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson, follows agreements reached by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Shmyhal said in a post on X.
As part of the talks, the two sides discussed the possibility of direct grant support from Canada worth $650 million to help Ukraine buy gas for the coming winter as part of Ottawa’s broader aid package. Ukraine has faced repeated Russian strikes on its energy infrastructure through successive winters of the war, now well into its fifth year.
Zelenskyy this month overhauled his government and said preparations for winter were a key reason driving the change. Sergii Koretskyi, chief executive officer of state-run energy company NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy, was named as prime minister, replacing Yuliia Svyrydenko.
Ukraine’s power and heating infrastructure remain vulnerable to Russian ballistic-missile strikes and low supplies of interceptors.
Ukraine also invited Canadian suppliers to store gas in its underground facilities and sought supplies of energy equipment from Canadian manufacturers, Shmyhal said. The ministers also discussed cooperation on small modular reactors, or SMRs, an area Kyiv wants to fold into the proposed long-term agreement as it looks to Canada’s experience in the technology.