Ursula von der Leyen Visits Ukraine for Energy Support

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has arrived in Kyiv for her eighth visit, focusing on Europe's support for Ukraine as winter approaches. She emphasized the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and announced a €160 million aid package from frozen Russian assets to address urgent humanitarian needs. Von der Leyen highlighted that Russia has significantly impacted Ukraine's energy capacity, equivalent to around 9 GW, and the EU aims to restore 2.5 GW while increasing electricity exports to Ukraine. Discussions with President Zelenskiy will cover winter preparedness, defense, and progress on G7 loans. This visit marks a notable advance in communication as it was announced beforehand, unlike previous visits during the ongoing conflict. Additionally, von der Leyen is also set to visit flood-hit areas in Poland to assess the situation.