EU to urgently link electricity grid with Ukraine’s

Energy ministers from European Union countries on Monday agreed to urgently link a European power system to Ukraine’s grid, a move that would increase its independence from Russia following Moscow’s invasion of the country.

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Europe’s top gas supplier, has sharpened concerns of disruption to energy supplies.

“There was a broad agreement around the table. Based on this, we will move forward to connect Ukraine’s electricity system as quickly as possible,” EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson said after the meeting.

Ukraine disconnected its grid from a Russian system last week and has asked for emergency synchronization with a European system. That would mean Russia would no longer control technical aspects of Ukraine’s network such as grid frequency. EU officials said the link could be completed within weeks.

Simson said it was possible that Russia could take “retaliatory steps” affecting Europe’s energy supplies in response to sanctions from the West, but that current gas storage levels and increased liquefied natural gas (LNG) deliveries could see Europe through this winter.