US, UK Pledge Renewed Support for Ukraine’s Energy Grid as Winter Approaches

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy hold a joint news conference in London on Sept. 10, 2024. Mark Schiefelbein/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced about $1.5 billion in new humanitarian assistance and support for Ukraine during their visit to Kyiv on Sept. 11.

Blinken said the United States would provide funding to Ukraine for its electrical grid, which Russian forces have repeatedly targeted over the past 2 1/2 years.

“As we’re meeting here today, we’re again seeing [Russian President Vladimir Putin] dust off his winter playbook, targeting Ukrainian energy and electricity systems to weaponize the cold against the Ukrainian people,” Blinken said at a joint media event with Lammy and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

“That’s why today we’re announcing $325 million in new funding to help repair Ukraine’s energy and electric grid.”

Blinken said the United States aims to rally additional support among many countries that back Ukraine when the Group of Seven Plus hosts its next energy coordination group meeting.

He also announced $290 million in humanitarian support to provide vital services such as safe drinking water, food, shelter, and medicine to millions of people in Ukraine.

Blinken said $102 million in U.S. funding would support the removal of mines and other unexploded ordnance scattered across Ukraine.

Lammy said the UK would contribute another 242 million pounds (about $317 million) “for immediate humanitarian energy and stabilization needs.” The British foreign secretary said his country would also “deploy $484 million worth of World Bank loan guarantees later this year” to support Ukraine.

On Sept. 6, the U.S. Department of Defense said it would send about $250 million worth of military equipment to Ukraine, including air defense systems, artillery ammunition, and anti-tank missiles and launchers. That announcement marked the 65th time since August 2021 that the Biden administration has drawn from U.S. weapons stores to assist Ukrainian forces.

Also last week, the UK’s Ministry of Defence pledged to transfer 650 lightweight multirole missile systems, which it valued at 162 million pounds, to Ukraine.

Speaking in Kyiv on Sept. 11, Lammy said the UK is preparing other military equipment packages for Ukraine, including new air defense missiles, artillery ammunition, and armored vehicles.

“I am most proud of the unity we and our allies have shown in support for Ukraine, and that is why our joint visit today, the first joint visit of its kind for well over a decade, is such an important signal,” he said.

While the United States and the UK are sending new weapons, financing, and humanitarian support to Ukraine, Russia is receiving support from Iran.

During a Sept. 10 call with reporters, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby shared the latest U.S. assessment that Iran has begun transferring Fath-360 short-range ballistic missiles to Russia. The State Department subsequently announced new economic sanctions targeting Iran Air, Vafa Wholesale, and Sea River Service for their alleged roles in facilitating the transfer of Iranian missiles to Russia.