Slovak PM Fico offers energy support to Ukraine in light of potential blackouts

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has pledged to support Ukraine with emergency power supplies during possible blackouts, he said during a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, according to news agency Ukrinform.

"We want Ukraine to have a dignified winter. In case of blackouts, we will provide emergency power supplies," Fico said.

He also supported the idea of Ukraine joining the unified energy system of the EU: "We want to offer a systemic solution to support the Ukrainian energy system. We have a unified energy market in the EU, and it is necessary for it to extend to you as well."

Fico also noted that Slovakia is preparing a new package of humanitarian aid for Ukraine, which will include support for the energy infrastructure.

Russia destroyed 9.2 GW of electricity generation in Ukraine during the spring and early summer of 2024. As a result, rolling blackouts, which had not been implemented since February 2023, resumed in the country in May.

In response to the attacks, Ukraine has taken a course towards creating distributed generation, which is harder to destroy, but the Ministry of Energy is also insisting on the construction of new nuclear power plants.

The Ministry of Energy estimates that an additional 3 GW of generation capacity can be restored, provided there is funding.