International response at Ukraine Recovery Conference critical to winter energy resilience   

At URC 2026, the Energy Community Secretariat called for an additional €650 million in donor contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, as preparations for the upcoming heating season in Ukraine are ongoing.

The international community convened this week at the 2026 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Gdańsk. At the centre of energy recovery discussions was the Ukraine Energy Support Fund (Fund), administered by the Energy Community Secretariat. Over four years into Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, the Fund has become the principal mechanism through which international energy aid is channelled to Ukraine.  

In the run-up to the URC, the European Commission, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, and the Energy Community Secretariat jointly called for an additional €650 million urgently required to cover prioritised needs of Ukraine's energy system before the cold sets in again. Secretariat Director Artur Lorkowski attended the Principals’ meeting of the G7+ Ukraine Energy Support Group / Energy Ramstein held in the margins of URC, to coordinate support needed. A number of G7+ partners have signaled commitments to further channel their contributions through the Fund. 

There are €680 million worth of critical energy equipment currently at various stages of procurement through the Ukraine Energy Support Fund. Out of this,  there are over €123 million EUR worth of open procurement opportunities in the bidding phase, with over €200 million worth of procurement in preparation. The Energy Community Secretariat, together with the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine and the independent procurement agent, convened a market awareness session on the margins of the URC for energy equipment manufacturers and suppliers worldwide. The session broadened the Fund's supplier base, raising awareness of upcoming procurement opportunities. It enabled companies to contribute to Ukraine's energy recovery while expanding their market presence, and helping to ensure the Fund continues to secure high-quality equipment at the best possible value for donor contributions. 

At the same time, mobilizing private investment is increasingly urgent due to the scale of damage to energy infrastructure, which necessitates the deployment of new, flexible generation capacities. Yet investors currently face severe war-related risks. In order to address these, the Secretariat has worked with NPC Ukrenergo  and is ready to launch the pilot stage of a new de-risking mechanism. This, Lorkowski explained during an Energy Ministerial Panel on Thursday, will provide targeted support to Ukrenergo auction winners., By leveraging Ukraine Energy Support Fund grants to procure financial guarantees, it will multiply donor impact. The mechanism tackles investment barriers in two ways: first, by providing financial guarantees to the commercial banks financing auction winners. Second, by providing physical protection equipment to mitigate the risk of war damages on power generation plants.   

Even as the Secretariat works to mobilise these resources, it is simultaneously deepening cooperation with key international financial institutions. On the first day of the URC, the Secretariat—represented by Director Artur Lorkowski—together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development – represented by Vice President for Banking Matteo Patrone -- and the European Investment Bank (EIB) -- represented by Vice-President Karl Nehammer; -- signed a joint paper. The paper reaffirmed the institutions' commitment to coordinate investments, emergency support and reforms aimed at securing Ukraine’s energy supply through the coming winter, while also advancing long-term energy recovery.