PARIS (dpa-AFX) – The international community is supporting Ukraine with emergency winter aid worth a good one billion euros. This sum came together on Tuesday at an international conference of supporters for the country, which was badly hit by the Russian war of aggression, in Paris. The focus of the aid is on repairing the severely damaged electricity and heat supply, said French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna. In Paris alone, 415 million euros were collected for maintaining the energy supply. Other aid goes to water supply, transport, health and nutrition. “With the help, we have a direct impact on the lives of millions of people.”
At the start of the conference, French President Emmanuel Macron stressed the determination of the international community to support Ukraine. “The immediate task is to help the Ukrainian people through the winter.” International organizations, the European Union and a total of 70 countries, including countries such as India, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, took part in the conference. Germany was represented by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens). The conference complements efforts to provide longer-term support to Ukraine, for which EU countries have just pledged €18 billion in loans.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the establishment of a coordination platform under EU direction, which should enable aid to be passed on quickly to Ukraine. For this purpose, a transhipment warehouse is to be set up in Poland this week, from where relief supplies are to be transported to the corresponding regions in the Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was connected via video, said that all energy centers had been damaged or destroyed by the Russians. Millions of people are without electricity. “Imagine that for your countries.” Rapid help could prevent a massive wave of migration in this situation. “Generators have become as important as armored vehicles and body armor.” They allowed hospitals and businesses to continue operating and tents to be set up where people could warm up and charge their cell phones.
“Our country will not sink into darkness, we are supported by the civilized world,” said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. On a large screen in the conference room, he vividly illustrated the emergency situation with images from the Ukraine. “We need help for quick infrastructure repairs, help for millions of Ukrainians who want to keep fighting and stay in the country.”
As France’s foreign minister said, winter aid included transformers, building materials and fire engines. France pledged medical supplies, school buses, mine clearance support and powerful generators, among other things.
At a separate meeting following the conference, the course was set for French business to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine. Around 700 French companies were interested in these talks./evs/DP/men