G7: Blockade of coal supplies from occupied Donbas threatens Ukraine's energy security

"Ukraine has started growing again in the past year. Blockades of transport links threaten this progress, and the energy security of millions of citizens," the G7 said in a statement.

"We urge all parties involved to look to the common good, and unblock railways and roads for legitimate trade," they said.

"We also call upon the Ukrainian authorities to set out a transparent and accountable framework for energy supplies and to reinforce confidence ‎that public utilities are being operated for public benefit. More importantly, the government needs to modernize plants and undertake critical reforms to ensure long-term security of the nation's energy supply," the statement said.

Read alsoState of emergency in Ukraine’s electricity generation coming into force todayUkraine's Cabinet of Ministers on February 15 imposed a state of emergency in the electricity market in the country aimed to reduce consumption of anthracite whose supplies were halted due to a blockade by Ukrainian activists of trade with occupied areas in Donbas.

Despite the fact that anthracite was produced by Ukrainian-registered companies that are Ukrainian taxpayers, they had to suspend shipments to Ukrainian thermal power plants and metallurgical enterprises from February 10. This may affect heat and power generation in at least nine regions, and cause the failure of contractual liabilities and a decline in revenue in metallurgy.

Both the European Union and the United States have condemned the blockade.