Poland has long been Ukraine’s strategic energy partner, expert says
Polish energy security expert and Energy Drink podcast author Wojciech Jakóbik told this to Ukrinform, commenting on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s announcement about creating an Energy Coalition.
“Poland had been in an energy coalition with Ukraine long before it became as crucial as it is today,” Jakóbik emphasized.
He noted that the first deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the United States to Ukraine using Polish infrastructure took place back in 2017. Cooperation between Poland’s state oil and gas company PGNiG (now PKN Orlen) and the Ukrainian-American firm ERU Trading began well before the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
According to the expert, negotiations are now underway between the PKN Orlen and tthe Naftogaz of Ukraine on a potential long-term gas supply contract. It could be implemented once Poland’s second floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU-2) becomes operational, planned for 2027–2028.
“Now, during this military and energy crisis, these talks are extremely important and will likely end successfully,” Jakóbik said.
The Polish expert recalled that Ukraine had previously purchased gas from Poland under short-term contracts. However, the destruction of Ukraine’s gas infrastructure by Russian attacks “may soon lead to new short-term deals.”
Jakóbik believes that the Polish-Ukrainian energy partnership could form the foundation of a regional gas hub in Central and Eastern Europe. He said that EU regulations and U.S. sanctions are encouraging the shift away from Russian energy sources — a trend that will persist.
“This means Poland and Ukraine will be able to cooperate through gas pipelines in Poland, gas storage facilities in Ukraine, and interconnectors with neighboring countries such as Slovakia and Hungary — continually saturating the market with non-Russian energy sources. This will be a win-win situation for everyone except the Kremlin,” the expert stressed.
He added that Polish-Ukrainian energy cooperation could also extend to the electricity sector, which is developing rapidly. Ukraine had earlier planned to export electricity to the EU, but due to Russian attacks, European countries, including Poland, are now helping maintain the stability of Ukraine’s power grid. According to Jakóbik, this cooperation could later expand with the participation of Scandinavian countries and Germany once the security situation stabilizes.
Jakóbik also noted that Poland currently supports Ukraine’s energy system through the supply of equipment and by promoting assistance for Kyiv in European institutions such as the EBRD and the Energy Community, to help the country get through the heating season.
“This year, several short-term gas supply contracts have been signed with Poland to ensure sufficient reserves for Ukraine’s heating season. Further contracts are expected, and depending on the energy market situation, there may also be emergency energy deliveries from Poland to Ukraine. Poland has been cooperating with Ukraine in this field from the very beginning. It’s a commercial partnership — and that means more stable, long-term cooperation in the future,” the expert concluded.
As reported by Ukrinform, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the creation of the Energy Coalition. He said the first online meeting is planned in the coming days.
Following his visit to Norway, Zelensky said Ukraine would receive about $150 million to purchase gas for the winter — the third package of energy support from that country this year.
The President also told journalists he is in talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni about acquiring additional electricity generation equipment.
German Minister for Economy and Energy Katherina Reiche said Germany’s total contribution to Ukraine’s Energy Support Fund will reach €450 million.
