Ukraine credits Azerbaijan for helping it survive winter energy crisis

Azerbaijan has played an important role in ensuring Ukraine’s energy resilience, said Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal.

Speaking at the 31st Baku Energy Forum, Shmyhal highlighted Azerbaijan’s continued support for Ukraine’s energy sector during challenging conditions, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“Azerbaijan has made a significant contribution to our resilience during the most difficult period of the past winter. Our Azerbaijani partners provided generators, transformers, cables, and other critically needed equipment.

This support allowed us to withstand the winter. Today, it is helping us prepare for the upcoming winter season. Overall, since the beginning of the full-scale military actions, Azerbaijan has announced 11 packages of energy assistance for Ukraine. We are deeply grateful for this. We would like to express our gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov. We highly value such solidarity and are sincerely thankful for it. A shared understanding of common interests continues to form the basis of our cooperation and mutual support,” the First Deputy Prime Minister said.

Shmyhal stated that Azerbaijan is poised to consolidate its position as a dependable supplier of energy resources through collaborative projects with Ukraine.

“Ukraine has already become part of the updated European gas map, including the Trans-Balkan route, through which Caspian gas can reach energy-deficient regions of Europe. The first trial deliveries of Azerbaijani gas via this corridor have demonstrated that this concept is becoming a reality.

In addition, Ukraine has the largest underground gas storage facilities on the continent, with a total capacity of around 30 billion cubic metres. These capacities can serve as a regional seasonal buffer, act as a stabilizing mechanism, and become an element of a new architecture of energy supplies,” Shmyhal said.

The Ukrainian minister emphasized that such cooperation brings benefits to all participating parties.

“Azerbaijan will strengthen its reputation as a reliable supplier. Ukraine will enhance its status as a key transit and service hub. Europe, in turn, will gain stable alternative energy sources,” he added.

By Vafa Guliyeva