Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 23, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
Add as preferred source on Google
France coordinates G7 and Nordic support for Ukraine's energy grid after Russian bombings. Ukraine faces an energy emergency, with international aid pledged.
PARIS, Jan 23 (Reuters) - The European Union is deploying emergency generators to Ukraine, saying Russian bombings have left a million people without power and heating, while France plans to hold a call to rally international help for Ukrainians exposed to extreme cold.
Electrical engineers have been working around the clock in hazardous conditions for weeks since Russia escalated attacks on Ukraine's grid during a cold snap that has reached temperatures of minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 F).
The European Commission will send 447 emergency generators worth 3.7 million euros ($4.3 million) to restore power to hospitals, shelters and critical services affected by "relentless Russian strikes", it said in a statement on Friday.
It added the generators will be mobilised from strategic reserves hosted in Poland and distributed in cooperation with the Ukrainian Red Cross to the most affected communities.
"Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure ... are designed to break Ukrainian spirit", European crisis chief Hadja Lahbib said in the statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has declared an energy emergency after the strikes over winter knocked out power generation and distribution facilities.
"We won't let Russia freeze Ukraine. We bring light and warmth where Russia sends darkness," Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova told a daily news briefing.
FRANCE TO HOLD CALL WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS
Earlier on Friday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told BFM television that France would hold a call with G7 countries as well as Nordic and Baltic states later in the day to coordinate support for Ukraine's energy grid.
"He continues to shell Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure. We will continue to support Ukraine," Barrot said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He said France would supply Ukraine with the equivalent of 13 extra megawatts of electricity and around 100 generators to replace destroyed infrastructure. Other countries would also pledge assistance during the virtual meeting, he said.
($1 = 0.8524 euros)
(Reporting by John Irish and Alessandro ParodiEditing by Mark Heinrich and Peter Graff)
Humanitarian aid refers to assistance provided to people in need, often during crises such as natural disasters or conflicts, aimed at saving lives and alleviating suffering.
Renewable energy is energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a faster rate than they are consumed, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.
Energy infrastructure includes the facilities and systems that generate, transmit, and distribute energy, such as power plants, transmission lines, and substations.
An international financial institution is an organization that provides financial and technical assistance to countries for development projects, such as the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund.
Energy technologies encompass a range of methods and tools used to produce, store, and utilize energy efficiently, including renewable energy systems and energy management solutions.
Explore more articles in the Finance category
