Von der Leyen arrives in Kyiv promising Ukraine electricity funds for winter

Russia continues to target the war-torn country's energy infrastructure, leaving parts of the east in darkness for hours at a time.

Transcript

00:00European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen traveled on Friday to the capital of war-torn

00:06Ukraine, Kiev, with the promise of 160 million euros of energy funds to get the nation through

00:11the winter.

00:12Von der Leyen told reporters that 100 million euros of the funds would come from the proceeds

00:17of the Russian assets held in the EU.

00:20It's only right that Russia pays for the destruction it caused, von der Leyen said.

00:25The 60 million euro is pledged for the humanitarian aid and shelters for civilians forced from

00:30their homes by Russian airstrikes.

00:32Although it was not on the official schedule, her visit was highly anticipated as she was

00:37in Poland the day before.

00:39During her visit, von der Leyen attended the memorial ceremony at the Wall of Remembrance

00:43of the Fallen for Ukraine.

00:45About half of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been destroyed since February 2022.

00:51As the nation will face its third war winter, it is estimated that the EU has provided at

00:55least 2 billion euros in energy support.