Ukraine’s energy minister praises Poland for dropping Russian coal

Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko has welcomed Poland's decision to abandon coal supplies from the Russian Federation and Belarus, as well as to ban these nations’ transit via its territory.

That’s according to the press service of the Energy Ministry, Ukrinform reports.

"Poland, far ahead of the EU's decision on Russian coal embargo, has set an example of a decisive and consistent policy. This is a really bold step, given the structure of coal consumption in Poland. I thank our Polish friends for their support of Ukraine in the confrontation with the terrorist power, whose aggression threatens not only our state, but also almost the whole world," the Ukrainian minister stressed.

Poland has earlier imposed an embargo on Russian coal. Also, the act on special decisions, signed by President of Poland, provides for the possibility of freezing the assets of entities and individuals who support Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

In 2020, most of the coal imported to Poland, more than 70%, came from the Russian Federation. This accounted for about 15% of domestic consumption and almost 80% of private household consumption.