Ukraine and Greece have agreed to open a new route for gas supplies and to secure financing for additional imports ahead of winter, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday.
“As of today, we have prepared an agreement on gas for Ukraine,” Zelensky said in a video address. “This will be another route to maximise the security of gas imports during winter.”
The announcement follows a Kyiv Independent report citing a government source saying Zelensky would travel to Greece to sign an energy deal.
Zelensky said Kyiv and Athens also reached agreements on financing gas imports, covering nearly 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) needed to offset losses in Ukraine’s domestic production caused by Russian attacks.
He said the Ukrainian government, European allies and banks are working together to secure the necessary funds, with support from the European Commission, Norway, Ukrainian banks and the United States.
Ukraine is also holding talks with partners in Poland on a long-term gas contract with Azerbaijan, he added.
Zelensky will travel next to France for talks on Nov. 17 to advance a defence agreement he said would “significantly strengthen” Ukraine’s air defence and combat aviation. He is then due to visit Spain.
Russia has intensified missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure in recent weeks, aiming to cripple power and heating systems ahead of winter. Major attacks on Nov. 8 and Nov. 14 caused extensive damage and widespread blackouts.
The pressure on Ukraine’s energy sector has been compounded by a domestic scandal involving senior officials accused of taking kickbacks from contractors at state-owned energy firms. Zelensky said on Nov. 15 that Kyiv would carry out a full overhaul of state energy companies, including leadership changes and financial audits.