Under the chairmanship of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council was held, at which the issues of automating the start of the heating season and providing assistance to the Republic of Moldova in the energy sphere were considered.
In particular, the National Security and Defense Council considered the situation in the energy sector. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Chernyshov reported on the country’s preparations for the heating season. The reports of Minister of Energy German Galushchenko, Chairman of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine Yuriy Vitrenko and the heads of the structures that ensure the operation of the gas transportation system were also heard.
The National Security and Defense Council has decided that the government, regional state administrations and local governments must take comprehensive measures to implement the tasks set by the decisions of the National Security and Defense Council of December 2, 2019 "On urgent measures to ensure energy security", July 30, 2021 "On measures to neutralize threats in the energy sector" and August 28, 2021 "On measures to neutralize threats in the energy sector."
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov stated at the briefing following the meeting that there is some sabotage in the implementation of the decisions of the National Security and Defense Council to create an energy balance of Ukraine, which may involve oligarchic circles.
Therefore, at today's meeting of the National Security and Defense Council it was decided to form a working group to ensure the publicity of processes in the energy sector and to automate the process of starting the heating season so that heat startup ceases to be an annual topic of speculation.
In addition, the government was instructed to take measures within three days to establish a mechanism for uninterrupted gas supply to household consumers until the end of the heating season. These are, in particular, budgetary and religious organizations, heat supply companies, municipal non-profit enterprises.
Given the crisis in the European energy market, the National Security and Defense Council heard representatives of GTS Operator Ukraine, Naftogaz of Ukraine and a protocol order was approved to determine special conditions for the transportation of additional natural gas by the Ukrainian gas transportation system to European countries in the amount of at least 55 billion cubic meters per year.
As Oleksiy Danilov noted at the briefing, Ukraine, in addition to 40 billion cubic meters of gas, which is transported to Europe under a contract with Russia's Gazprom, is ready to offer additional volumes of 55 billion cubic meters per year.
In addition, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal received a letter from Prime Minister of Moldova Natalia Gavrilița requesting assistance to the republic in the form of a certain amount of gas to avoid the emergency situation in this country, in particular caused by the actions of Gazprom. According to the decision of the National Security and Defense Council, the Ukrainian government will consider this request, and Ukraine will be able to provide such assistance in the near future.