No quick solution to Ukraine’s energy woes, Canada and U.S. officials say

OTTAWA – Canadian and U.S. assistance to Ukraine on the energy file will be limited to technical help, at least for the time being.

The eastern European country’s natural gas stores are in a precarious position due to the ongoing conflict with Russia and there have been suggestions that Canada and the U.S. could help with exports.

But Canada’s natural resources minister and the U.S. energy secretary say neither country is in a position to help increase Ukraine’s energy supply without major infrastructure developments.

Greg Rickford and his U.S. counterpart Ernest Moniz say they are working with Ukrainian officials on other ways to ease energy pressures there as part of a broader approach to global energy security.

The two men met today in Ottawa for a bilateral discussion on cross-border energy issues and to sign a memorandum of understanding.

The meeting came as U.S. lawmakers prepared to mark the sixth anniversary of the Keystone XL pipeline application with calls for its approval.