West must boost aid to stop Russia plunging Ukraine into the dark, Borrell says

By John Irish

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Russia is trying to knock out Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of the winter to leave it dark and in the cold, the EU's foreign policy chief said on Monday, saying Kyiv's Western allies needed to step up in providing air defences for Ukraine.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine's energy system has been targeted, resulting in rolling blackouts and limited electricity supply to some regions for hours each day. Those attacks have ramped in recent weeks ahead of the winter.

Ukraine's electricity supply shortfall could reach 6 gigawatts this winter, about a third of the expected peak demand, the International Energy Agency said in a report published on Thursday.

"It's clear that Russia wants to put Ukraine into the dark and the cold. The winter is coming, and following Russia attacks against energy targets, Ukraine energy production capacity has been reduced by two-thirds," Josep Borrell told reporters at a press conference in New York.

Borrell was speaking after European Union foreign ministers and earlier, G7 ministers, held talks with Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, to discuss how to help Ukraine in the coming weeks.

"We have to support Ukraine not only providing military capacity, but electricity production capacity. Otherwise, this country will be facing a very hard time in winter," Borrell said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last week announced a loan of up to 35 billion euros ($39 billion) for Ukraine's economy and military, saying it was needed to defend the country against Russian attacks and help it get through the winter.

"Both things have to be done at the same time," Borrell said. "It doesn't make sense to provide with an electricity generator today if it has to be destroyed tomorrow."

Borrell said Russia was continuing to get new weapons and pointed to Iran specifically.

"It's clear that Russia has been receiving new arms, in particular missiles from Iran," he said. "This is what we believe, even if Iranians deny it, but it looks like it."

Tehran and Moscow have dismissed reports about Iran sending ballistic missiles to Russia.

Western officials are also expected to hear what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says during his visit to the UN General Assembly where he has said he would outline a 'Victory Plan'.

"Ukraine has to improve the military situation in order to go to the peace negotiations in a good way, in a position of strength," Borrell said.

"The Victory Plan is about how to conduct a war. The Peace Plan is about how to get peace," he said.

(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Howard Goller and Lincoln Feast.)