“A two-state solution is not impossible.” In the aftermath of the wall placed by the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the US president, Joe Biden, has returned heavily to the attack on Israel in an attempt to convince it to work for a Palestinian state after the end of Gaza war. “There are different types of two-state solutions,” she said. And he then raised options that would limit Palestinian sovereignty to make the prospect more palatable for Tel Aviv. Hoping to overcome Netanyahu's strenuous resistance, Biden raised the possibility of one disarmed Palestinian nation that would not threaten Israel's security. Biden's phone call to Netanyahu is the first in almost a month in the midst of tension over the war.
Russia-Ukraine war
Human lives and destruction of cities: the war in Ukraine, unfortunately, is this but not only. Russian attacks also strike at the heart of energy structures. For the second consecutive winter bombings are targeting systems across the country. The Russians go to the heart of the security of energy supply as a destabilizing element. Millions of people in all areas suffer in the cold and without electricity. It is a new alarm for the international community.
The situation on the ground is summarized in a Valid identity document ofIea, the International Energy Agency. Already in the winter of 2022/23 the bombings had targeted power plants, refineries and district heating plants. Nuclear power plants are those that cause the greatest concern, although they are subject to periodic checks by the other Agency, the IAEA which deals with nuclear power.
According to the World Bank, the energy sector has suffered damage amounting to 12 billion dollars to date with over 50% of the structures now out of use. The appeals for support of the resistance put energy security first, for all that it entails. The IEA is providing emergency support, but is also trying to develop long-term plans. The end of the conflict will, in fact, mark the reconstruction of the country starting from energy production. It will take time, though.
A paradox made worse by Putin
As in all tragic events in history, there is a paradox in Ukraine too. Before the Russian invasion the country had embarked on the path of energy diversification. Without Putin's barbarism he would have made progress in the transition with the ambition of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 65% by 2030. work It is currently diversified between natural gas, coal, nuclear and renewables. It will be remembered that energy supply has been the subject of old geopolitical tensions with Russia itself which went so far as to block gas supplies via pipes.
In this war “Russia used missiles and drones to hit energy plants across the country, leaving no thermal or hydroelectric power plant intact. As a result, some areas only had access to electricity, heat and the Internet for a few hours a day. Hospitals, businesses and families had to turn to expensive diesel generators for backup,” they write Talya Vatman e Craig Hart the two IEA experts.
During the spring and summer, Ukrainian electricity companies obtained grants and loans to repair or maintain plants. Armed surveillance increased, but with the arrival of winter Russian attacks on the structures resumed. Shots of all kinds that spread toxic residues into the air, which little is talked about. So far, no one has calculated the environmental damage caused by bombs, missiles and artillery. Even in this case, time will tell us how many consequences the invasion will have left.
A summit to outline the future
The country is now disconnected from the Russian energy system, but the money that will arrive from international aid will be used "to repair coal-based electricity generation and purchase high-power autotransformers" write the two experts. The transformation of the system remains a goal of Zelensky, a dynamic scenario without the conflict that Russia evidently cannot share by the force of its gas.
Although the military situation of recent weeks does not seem very favorable to the Ukrainian resistance, the energy issue maintains its importance. To consolidate collaboration and restore efficiency to the structures, the Kiev government will send a delegation to the IEA ministerial meeting next month. A comparison to lay the foundations for the winters to come.
“The strong and constant commitment from the international community will be fundamental to ensuring that Ukraine's drive to build a modern, sustainable and secure energy system is a success” the text continues. The international community listened to Zelensky's words at the Forum Davos and tries to manage the requests for weapons and money, part of which will certainly have to "give light" to the population. Whatever the outcome of the conflict will be.
