Ukraine-EU energy link strengthened as Zelenskyy signs law
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law paving the way for the full-scale operation of the Ukrainian electricity market in accordance with European regulations.
Ukrainian Parliament passed the bill on April 7 in its second reading. It aims to establish a legal framework for integrating the Ukrainian electricity market into the European Union's single energy market.
The bill takes effect following extensive preparations and reforms in the sector.
How it will work
The law launches what is known as market coupling. Simply put, this is a mechanism that automatically coordinates electricity prices and trading volumes between Ukraine and EU countries.
It covers two types of trading:
- Purchase and sale of electricity one day ahead
- Intraday trading (intraday market)
The law also introduces:
- European model for assessing risks in the energy sector
- Capacity mechanisms to ensure the system always has enough electricity;
- New tools for market operations.
Separately, the law regulates the interaction between the grid operator and the market operator to ensure uninterrupted cross-border electricity trading.
The document also strengthens consumer rights through the development of energy communities and so-called active consumer mechanisms, where people or businesses not only buy electricity but can also sell it or manage their own consumption.
Meanwhile, the European Commission is preparing a separate Energy Action Plan for Ukraine, aimed at implementation by next winter. As reported by RBC-Ukraine, European Commissioner Marta Kos announced the allocation of 145 million euros to support Ukraine’s energy sector in 2026.
The total amount of EU aid since 2022 has already exceeded 3 billion euros.
In September 2025, as reported by RBC-Ukraine, experts at a conference organized by the We Build Ukraine center identified the integration of electricity markets with the EU as one of the sector’s top priorities.
