Germany pledges an extra €100 million for Ukraine’s energy grid, bringing its total support to €550 million, despite recent corruption revelations in the sector.
BERLIN: Germany will provide an additional €100 million to support Ukraine’s energy infrastructure despite a recent corruption scandal in the sector.
The economy ministry announced the funds will be channelled through the KfW development bank to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.
This new pledge brings Germany’s total contribution to the fund to €550 million by the end of 2025.
Ukrainians face one of their toughest winters since the war began after Russia’s heavy bombing campaign against energy facilities.
Efforts to reinforce the grid have been complicated by a November report revealing sweeping corruption in the sector.
President Volodymyr Zelensky ordered two ministers to resign over the scheme and sanctioned a former business partner named as its mastermind.
Germany has vowed to keep supporting Ukraine despite the scandal, though Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged the country to “energetically advance anti-corruption measures”.
The economy ministry said the KfW would “continue to strictly monitor compliance with its regulations” against the backdrop of recent Ukrainian anti-corruption investigations.
Economy Minister Katherina Reiche stated that Russia is deliberately attacking Ukraine’s energy infrastructure to turn winter into a weapon.
“We will not leave the Ukrainian people alone,” Reiche said. “Protecting energy supplies means protecting people –- that is what this is all about.”
Germany has been Ukraine’s biggest financial supporter in Europe since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion.
It has also agreed to provide Kyiv with €11.5 billion in military aid in 2026.
