The Ukrainian government is asking the United States to increase shipments of natural gas to stave off what it is calling a potential humanitarian crisis after a Russian drone attack last week devastated its natural gas network, the head of Ukraine’s state-run energy company Naftogaz said Wednesday.
Russia’s attacks last week destroyed natural gas pipeline connections to Ukrainian cities ahead of what is expected to be a harsh winter. Naftogaz executives have spoken with officials at the Department of Energy, the Export-Import Bank and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to request natural gas compressors and other equipment and the possibility of receiving loans of U.S. liquefied natural gas cargoes, company officials said.
“Our gas production and infrastructure has suffered significant damage,” Naftogaz Chief Executive Sergii Koretskyi told POLITICO. “These maniacal terrorist strikes are aimed solely at one thing — depriving Ukraine of gas, heat and light.”
Administration officials did not immediately respond to questions. The Trump administration has grown frustrated with Russia and its continued attacks on Ukraine after President Donald Trump pressed for a peace deal.
