NB8 countries mobilize at least €918 million for Ukraine's energy sector ahead of winter
Countries of Northern Europe and the Baltics in the NB8 format are working to attract additional financial, material, and technical assistance for Ukraine's energy sector ahead of winter, Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said. NB8 countries have allocated at least €918 million for 2026 to supply Ukraine with energy resources and to protect and restore energy infrastructure. Shmyhal stressed that international aid should match the real needs of the energy system and reinforce its long-term resilience, decentralization, and integration into the European energy market.
Key points
- NB8 ministers of energy met for the first time in Tallinn.
- NB8 countries have allocated at least €918 million for 2026 to supply Ukraine with energy resources and protect and restore energy infrastructure.
- Denys Shmyhal said international aid must meet the real needs of the energy system and strengthen its long-term resilience, decentralization, and integration into the European energy market.
- Ukraine has accumulated significant experience during the full-scale war in maintaining and restoring energy supply after Russian physical and cyberattacks.
- Strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities increased by one third in 2026.
- Germany recently transferred equipment to support Ukraine's energy and medical sectors.
- Ukraine is ready to share its experience with partners on protecting energy infrastructure.
Why it matters
A concrete €918 million envelope from NB8 partners signals sustained, coordinated support for Ukraine's energy sector through the winter heating season, when Russian strikes on energy infrastructure pose the greatest risk to civilians and the economy. Aligning aid with long-term resilience, decentralization, and integration into the European energy market frames the assistance as more than emergency relief.
What happened
At the first meeting of NB8 energy ministers in Tallinn, Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said the format's countries — Northern Europe and the Baltics — would work to pull in additional financial, material, and technical assistance for Ukraine's energy sector ahead of winter. For 2026, NB8 countries have allocated at least €918 million to supply Ukraine with energy resources and to protect and restore its energy infrastructure. Shmyhal said Ukraine's preparation for winter 2026/2027 is a key priority, that international assistance must meet the real needs of the energy system and reinforce long-term resilience, decentralization, and further integration into the European energy market, and that Kyiv is ready to share the experience it has built up over the years of full-scale war in keeping the lights on under Russian physical and cyberattacks. Separately, Germany recently transferred equipment to support Ukraine's energy and medical sectors. The number of strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities rose by one third in 2026.
Background
The first meeting of energy ministers of the eight NB8 countries took place in Tallinn.