MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES OF CANADA AND THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY OF UKRAINE ON STRATEGIC COOPERATION IN THE ENERGY SECTOR

As signed February 18, 2026

The Department of Natural Resources of Canada and the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, hereinafter referred to as the “Participants”,

RECALLING the Agreement on Security Cooperation between Canada and Ukraine, signed at Kyiv on 24 February 2024;

RECALLING the modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement, done at Ottawa on 22 September 2023, which supports long-term security, stability, and economic development in Ukraine, as well as the creation of middle-class jobs in Canada and Ukraine;

RECOGNISING Canada’s leadership role in maintaining support for Ukraine as a priority on the international agenda, in particular during its Presidency of the Group of 7 (G7) in 2025 where the G7 Energy Ministers released a strong negotiated Statement on Ukraine's Energy Security in October 2025 at Toronto;

RECOGNISING the importance of the G7+ Ukraine Energy Sector Support Coordination Group, which offers a platform to discuss urgent and operational needs, and to coordinate interested donors across Ukraine's energy sectors, and which released statements on promoting the sustainable green recovery of Ukraine's energy system, which were adopted at the Ukraine Recovery Conference on 10 July 2025 in Rome, Italy, and at the Climate Change Conference (COP29) on 15 November 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan;

EMPHASISING that Canada continues to support the people of Ukraine as they defend their country and the shared principles and values that are under attack, and that Canada commemorates the sacrifices made by the Ukrainian people in this fight and supports Ukraine's efforts to enhance its energy resilience and security consistent with the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations adopted on 26 June 1945;

ACKNOWLEDGING the significant assistance Canada provided in support of Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction since February 2022, including from Canadian sub-national governments, charities and Chambers of Commerce, and including via contributions to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Bank’s Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Multi-Donor Trust Fund, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Energy Agency and the International Renewable Energy Agency;

DETERMINED to put an end to Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine since 2014 and its full-scale invasion in 2022, which have caused severe suffering to the Ukrainian people, threatens European and global energy security, and uses energy resources as a tool of hybrid warfare;

REAFFIRMING Canada's unwavering commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders since 1991, including its territorial waters, and to ensuring Ukraine's ability to defend its energy infrastructure and resist future pressure in the energy sector;

RECOGNISING Ukraine's inherent right to pursue its energy policy and cooperation mechanisms, including Ukraine's aspirations to join the European Union (EU) and integrate into European energy markets;

EMPHASISING that Canada will continue to encourage Ukraine's implementation of the deep and comprehensive reforms in the energy sector necessary for full integration into the EU and international energy standards, and welcomes the significant progress in reforms achieved in Ukraine so far;

NOTING the importance of global efforts to transition to clean energy, as set forth in the Paris Agreement, adopted in Paris on 12 December 2015 at the Twenty-First Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as Canada's role as a technology leader in nuclear energy, hydropower, and renewable energy sources, and recognising that bilateral energy commitments complement and support global climate goals;

HAVE COME to the following understanding:

Paragraph I. Purpose

The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (hereinafter referred to as MoU) is to establish the Participants’ strategic cooperation in the energy sector, recognising that energy security is a key element of national security, with the following objectives:

  1. to strengthen and deepen political, economic and technological cooperation in the energy sector between the Participants;

  2. to enable the Participants to exchange information, technologies, investment opportunities and best practices, recognising Ukraine's experience in overcoming energy crises and Canada's expertise in innovative energy technologies;

  3. to identify current and future needs in the energy sector and match them with the strengths, capabilities and available resources of each Participant;

  4. to develop and provide technical, investment promotion and other support to Ukraine to strengthen its energy independence and security;

  5. to facilitate the reconstruction and modernisation of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, ensure resilience to hybrid threats and transition to renewable energy; and

  6. to encourage reforms in Ukraine's energy sector to bring it in line with EU standards, including market liberalisation, anti-corruption measures and energy efficiency improvements.

Paragraph II. Areas of Cooperation

  1. Nuclear Energy

    2. The Participants will endeavor to strengthen cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, including nuclear safety and security, in accordance with the Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ukraine for Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, done at Ottawa (Canada) on 20 December 1995, by:

    1. strengthening commercial relations towards the supply of raw materials and components for nuclear fuel production;

    2. exchanging information, sharing best practices and promoting joint research and development activities in the field of nuclear safety and security, regulatory standards, accident protection and recovery, radioactive waste management, and uranium mining and processing facility decommissioning, noting the Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation and Information Exchange on Nuclear Regulation between the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU) and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), signed at Kyiv on 15 August 2023;

    3. further collaboration, in the context of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) technical and diplomatic activities, to support nuclear safety, security, and safeguards implementation in Ukraine, including with respect to restoring safe operation of the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and other nuclear and radiation-hazardous facilities affected by the war, and the reconstruction of Ukraine’s nuclear-related infrastructure;

    4. promoting the post-war development of nuclear technologies, including advanced and small modular reactors;

    5. promoting cooperation in the supply and production of radioisotope products.

  2. Renewable Energy

    3. The Participants will endeavour to deepen cooperation in the field of renewable energy sources, including hydro, solar, wind, hydrogen, bioenergy and geothermal energy, which will involve:

    1. communicating investment opportunities in renewable energy projects in Ukraine to Canadian industry associates;

    2. communicating opportunities to Canadian industry associates on the reconstruction and restoration of existing hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) and pumped storage hydroelectric power plants (PSHPPs), as well as construction of new HPPs and PSHPPs to improve the resilience of Ukraine's energy system and integrate renewable energy sources;

    3. facilitating mutually decided technology transfer and training of specialists for the development of renewable energy and to support a transition to clean and renewable energy sources.

  3. Development, Protection and Restoration of Energy Infrastructure

    4. The Participants will endeavour to share technical advice and best practices regarding the development, protection and restoration of energy infrastructure, including:

    1. the development of alternative routes for natural gas supplies to Ukraine, diversification of supply sources (e.g., natural gas, Liquefied Natural Gas), modernisation and construction of new infrastructure, joint long-term use of Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities to ensure energy security in Ukraine and the region;

    2. the protection of critical energy infrastructure from cyber threats and physical attacks;

    3. by conducting joint risk assessments and exercises to counter hybrid threats, taking into account potential security threats; support for energy source diversification and supply chain risk mitigation; and integration with security cooperation agreements to provide comprehensive support for resilience;

    4. the development of resilient electricity transmission networks, including local micro-grids or ‘energy islands’, and the introduction of smart grids and other innovative technologies to improve efficiency, resilience and integration of renewable sources into the energy system;

    5. the development of digitalisation-enabled emergency demand response, including digitalisation-facilitated communication with citizens in advance of planned power outages;

    6. the timely and reliable restoration and redistribution of electricity during urgent situations, such as blackouts as a result of attacks;

    7. the protection of energy infrastructure facilities, including the implementation of active and passive protection systems against physical, cyber and hybrid threats;

    8. the restoration of Ukraine's energy infrastructure damaged by Russian aggression, in particular with donated parts.

  4. Oil and Gas Sector

    5. The Participants will endeavour to develop cooperation in the field of oil and gas production, including by:

    1. facilitating the exchange of best practices and technical advice between Canadian and Ukrainian oil and gas industry associates to support the modernisation of Ukraine’s oil and gas sector and the deployment of modern lower-emission technologies;

    2. working with Canadian industry to help facilitate the transfer of energy equipment and technologies on mutually decided concessional terms, where possible, for the oil and gas sector of Ukraine;

    3. facilitating the exchange of technical staff, subject to mutual consent and available resources, to help strengthen the qualifications of Ukrainian specialists in the field.

  5. Energy Efficiency and Innovation

    6. The Participants will endeavour to share lessons learned and best practices, primarily via existing multilateral fora including the International Energy Agency (IEA), the Energy Efficiency Hub, and the Clean Energy Ministerial regarding the implementation of energy-efficient technologies and innovations, including relating to:

    1. programmes to improve energy efficiency in industry and buildings;

    2. clean technologies, including products, services and processes, in particular in the areas of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, as well as innovations related to the circular economy and the sustainable development of the energy sector;

    3. research in the field of smart grids, energy storage and digitalisation of the energy sector;

    4. facilitating the exchange of technical staff, subject to mutual consent and available resources, to help strengthen the qualifications of Ukrainian specialists in the field.

  6. Multilateral Engagement

    7. The Participants will endeavour to engage, on a voluntary basis, in multilateral energy initiatives in the energy sector, including:

    1. facilitating the exchange of best practices, knowledge and experience, and strengthening cooperation on priority energy issues of mutual interest, including energy security, energy transition, clean energy deployment, innovation, and resilience of energy systems;
    2. supporting the development and deployment of sustainable, clean and innovative energy solutions, including participation in relevant multilateral initiatives and international cooperation platforms in the energy sector;
    3. contributing to the mobilisation of international support for the recovery, modernisation and resilience of energy infrastructure, including cooperation within the framework of the Clean Energy Ministerial, as well as other international processes, conferences, donor platforms and coordination mechanisms related to the post-war recovery of Ukraine, such as the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC), and other relevant international fora focused on the restoration and modernisation of critical energy infrastructure, the advancement of decarbonisation efforts, and the strengthening of resilient energy systems.

Paragraph III. Implementation Mechanisms

  1. The Participants will continue to engage in bilateral and multilateral dialogues at the senior officials level, including at the G7+ Ukraine Energy Coordination Group, to assess progress, coordinate activities, adjust priorities and adapt to new challenges.
  2. The Participants will aim to hold ad hoc consultations at the expert level to exchange best practices and monitor implementation.
  3. In the event of an energy crisis in Ukraine or threat to the functioning of Ukraine’s energy system, the Participants will endeavour to engage with the G7+ Ukraine Energy Sector Support Coordination Group to discuss possible support.
  4. The Participants will encourage the participation of the private sector, international organisations and partner countries (allies) in projects within the framework of this MoU, in particular within the framework of the G7+ Ukraine Energy Sector Support Coordination Group initiatives and the Clean Energy Partnership cooperation format, in order to support efforts to coordinate the activities of the Ukraine Donor Platform.

Paragraph IV. Governance Reforms and Resilience

The Participants understand that Ukraine is committed to continuing governance reforms in the energy sector, including anti-corruption measures, transparency and compliance with EU standards. Continued reform is essential for accountability and good governance, which are all critical for Ukraine’s long-term prosperity.

Paragraph V. Intellectual Property

If any intellectual property matters are expected to arise from the application of this MoU, the Participants will address them in separate appropriate instruments. Such instruments could include non-disclosure agreements, licensing agreements, collaborative research agreements, or other contracts.

Paragraph VI. Status

This MoU does not create any legal rights or obligations. Any intentions set out in this Memorandum are not subject to enforcement and will not be considered legally binding.

Paragraph VII. Final Dispositions

  1. This MoU will become effective upon signature for a period of 3 years, with the possibility of its extension and renewal.
  2. This MoU may be amended by mutual consent of the Participants, including in the instance of Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.
 
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