Grant Shapps speech at Ukraine Recovery Conference
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps and Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko on safeguarding global energy security at URC.
“A Russian man with delusions of grandeur. A self-proclaimed superman who thinks he’s above the law.
Commits an act of horrific violence and attempts to justify it by false excuses and bogus reasoning, claiming it’s all for the greater good.
Well, if that sounds familiar.
In fact it’s a description of Raskolnikov, the central character in Crime and Punishment.
Though I could just as easily be talking about Vladimir Putin.
But whatever similarities that the Russian President shares with Dostoevsky’s famous villain. Actually when you study the two characters a little closer, their differences become clear.
After his crime, Raskolnikov actually tormented himself with confusion, paranoia and guilt.
He eventually faces up to his wrongdoing, and accepts his punishment.
Something I’m afraid we may never, ever see Putin do.
Modern Russia might be a country where crimes go unpunished.
But the whole world knows that a multitude of war crimes have been committed since the illegal invasion of Ukraine at the beginning of last year.
International law is clear on the rules that apply to armed conflict, and that indiscriminate attacks against civilian targets are prohibited.
Surely Putin’s systematic destruction of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which has left households, public services and businesses without electricity, and is intended to sow terror, fear and despair amongst the civilian population.
This shows a complete disregard for these rules and is internationally illegal.
According to the UN, relentless Russian targeting of Ukraine’s energy system has caused over $10 billion (£7.5 billion) of damage.
And the reason is clear.
Putin cannot win on the battlefield. We’ve seen that over the course of this war.
And so he is attempting to weaken Ukraine’s resistance by obliterating its energy infrastructure.
And yet here too, he is failing.
By rapidly reconnecting power grids following Russia’s attacks, Ukraine has once again demonstrated an incredible spirit of resistance, because they refused to be cowed by Putin.
Even during the war, Ukraine has disconnected from the old Russian grid, a legacy from the Soviet era grid to the east. It reconnected with the European grid in a matter of weeks – a process which should have taken a year and a half.
It’s this amazing ingenuity and determination, under the inspirational leadership of President Zelenskyy, that will help Ukraine rebuild, with the support of nations around the world, many of whom are represented here today
I’ve seen this story in microcosm through the Ukrainian family living in my home for a year. And hearing about the challenges faced by those in Ukraine with access to power and the internet.
And now Ukraine has the chance to build back better to decarbonise its energy system for the longer term future, exporting energy as well.
Today the UK is announcing deepening UK-Ukraine cooperation on energy.
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We are investing an initial £25 million for green businesses in Ukraine.
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We’ve launched a £10 million ‘Innovate Ukraine’ Green Energy Challenge Fund.
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And we are committing £3 million to help Ukraine establish institutional changes needed to bolster the green transition… bringing further UK expertise and investment to Ukraine’s energy network.
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The UK is honoured to work with the Government of the Ukraine, and members of the G7+ to develop a Clean Energy Partnership supporting the 2050 Strategy.
Together, these reforms will be absolutely critical as Ukraine aspires to full European integration, with the private sector playing its full part in the country’s recovery and reconstruction. And no better place to kick that off than here, today, in London – at the heart of financial markets.
Raskolnikov ranks amongst the most unpleasant characters in Russian literature.
But even he showed some humanity by struggling with his conscience throughout Crime and Punishment, and eventually turning himself in to face eight years of hard labour in Siberia.
I have to say as yet there is no punishment sufficient for the perpetrator of this brutal war.
But we can fight back by standing fully behind Ukraine, and showing the strength of the global coalition against Putin, and against the pointless, tragic invasion.
And whilst helping Ukraine defend itself against military bombardment will of course remain crucial. Stepping up measures to defend, repair and modernise the nation’s energy infrastructure is also critical to the rebuilding of Ukraine.
So can I thank Minister Galushchenko and Mr Shurma.
We are privileged to have you here today.
And we look forward to hearing more about your energy plans.
Thank you.”