Zelensky backs limitations on electricity imports from Russia, Belarus

Ukrainian Member of Parliament Mykhailo Bondar says President Volodymyr Zelensky has backed possible limitations on electricity imports from Russia and Belarus, having instructed Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov to draft and submit relevant resolutions for consideration.

That is according to Zelensky's response to the MP's request posted on the latter's Facebook page on March 18.

Read alsoUkraine in Jan-Feb drastically cuts electricity exports"I back the proposal to limit imports of electricity from the states that are not Energy Community members, and the need to improve the legislative regulation of such restrictions. In this regard, I have asked Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to comprehensively consider the issue specified in the request and introduce a set of effective measures," Zelensky said in his response.

The president also instructed Danilov to involve a panel of experts and submit draft resolutions for consideration at the next NSDC meeting on energy issues.

Background

• Earlier, Acting Energy Minister Yuriy Vitrenko said he was against electricity imports from Russia and Belarus. However, Ukraine still needs such imports during peak loads amid frosts.
• On February 1, 2021, Ukraine resumed commercial electricity purchases from Russia due to power shortages during the winter peaks.
• In January 2021, the country also re-started buying electricity from Belarus after almost a nine-month ban by the regulator.