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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with top US officials and business leaders to discuss potential investments in strengthening Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Purpose of meeting: The meeting, held at Bank of America’s headquarters in New York City, focused on preparing Ukraine’s energy system for the upcoming winter, a critical concern given the ongoing Russian airstrikes that have damaged the country’s energy infrastructure. According to a spokesman for Zelensky, the leaders discussed creating joint projects in the energy sector and implementing strategies to mitigate the risk of power outages during the cold season.
Who he met with: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with executives from leading US energy, finance, and insurance companies in New York, which included Bank of America President Bernard Mensah as well as high-ranking US officials, including US Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power and US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma.
Russia targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure: Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Ukrainian energy infrastructure has been consistently targeted by Russia. These strikes are intended to put Ukrainian cities into darkness and raise concerns especially during the harsh winter months. Russian officials claim these attacks are justified as legitimate military targets. Still, the international community, including the International Criminal Court, views them as war crimes due to their devastating impact on civilians.
Ukraine is doing the same thing: In addition to Russia, Ukraine has also targeted Russian energy infrastructure, with a notable uptick over the last year. These strikes include both power grids and petroleum reserves within Russia.
