The next winter in Ukraine may be even tougher than the current one, and Ukraine needs to get financial aid from its allies by May. This was stated by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum (KSF), Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016, Arseniy Yatsenyuk on a live broadcast of Espreso following the joint event of the KSF and the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on energy security.

Yatsenyuk outlined three key conclusions from the joint KSF and MSC roundtable discussion.

"The total damage caused by Russia to Ukraine's energy sector amounts to $65 billion. We need to start preparing for winter now. The cut-off date for Ukraine to start getting financial support and equipment to get ready for next winter is May. Anything done later than that just won't be ready in time to get the energy system up and running," said the KSF Chairman.

He stressed that the second key issue is ensuring missile and air defence for energy facilities.

"And here we must honestly admit that despite all efforts to ensure that Ukraine has sufficient defence against Russian attacks, this will not be enough. Without providing Ukraine with long-range missiles, without Tomahawks, without Putin knowing that Ukraine will strike his facilities, without Ukraine having the ability to respond, we will not be able to ensure energy security for the country next year," Yatsenyuk said.

The Chairman of the KSF also commented on the statement made by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the Munich Security Conference.

"The statement is very clear: even if a peace agreement is signed, the UK, the EU and everyone else must continue to work on their security, finance the 5% for defence and help Ukraine. Starmer is quite realistic when he says that even if a miracle happens and a peace agreement is signed, it will only mean that Russia will accumulate resources for its next offensive. Therefore, Britain, the EU, Ukraine and NATO members must finance their own and Ukraine's defence," the KSF Chairman stressed.

According to Yatsenyuk, during the Munich Security Conference, he did not hear a single person who believed that Russia was ready to sign a peace agreement. "Everyone is well aware that Putin is not conducting any real negotiations.The maximalist demands he made back in 2022 remain unchanged,‘ the former prime minister stressed.

In summing up the conference, the Chairman of the KSF formulated three key conclusions regarding Europe's position.

'First: Europe wants an end to the war. Second: Europe is well aware that this end will not come about because Russia is ready to sign an agreement. Third: Europe also realises that ending the war under any circumstances will lead to further arming of Russia. Therefore, Ukraine needs security guarantees and further assistance," Yatsenyuk stressed.

On 14 February, the first joint event with the Kyiv Security Forum took place within the framework of the Munich Security Conference – a round table discussion entitled ‘Energy Warfare: How to Disconnect Tyranny’. The discussion was attended by the Chairman of the Kyiv Security Forum, Prime Minister of Ukraine in 2014-2016 Arseniy Yatsenyuk, DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko, Director of International Affairs and Sustainable Development at Naftogaz Group Oleksiy Ryabchyn, former Chairman of the Board of Naftogaz of Ukraine Andriy Kobolev, former CIA Director General David Petraeus, former US Special Representative Kurt Volker, and other diplomats and experts.

The Kyiv Security Forum was founded in 2007 on the initiative of Arseniy Yatsenyuk and is Ukraine's leading international discussion platform on issues of war and peace.