On 8 November 2023, a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the ambassadorial level, convened at the initiative of the Ukrainian side and dedicated to energy security and the protection of Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure, took place at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. 

The meeting was attended by Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Energy Farid Safarov, Deputy Chairman of the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine Oleksandr Potii, Deputy Chief of Staff of Ukrainian Air Force Hennadii Sheludko and CEO of Ukraine's National Power Company and Transmission Operator, Ukrenergo Volodymyr Kudrytskyi. The Ukrainian delegation also included representatives of the National Guard, the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, the State Special Communications Service and the Air Force Command. 

In his speech, the Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine informed the NATO representatives about the state of the Ukrainian energy system, its readiness for the autumn-winter period and Ukraine's plans to protect critical energy infrastructure from Russian missile attacks.  Farid Safarov also stressed the importance of Ukraine receiving additional missile and air defence systems, as they are the best guarantee of protecting important energy facilities from Russian attacks. The Deputy Head of the State Service for Special Communications told the Allies how Ukraine is countering cyberattacks on Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure, which Russia is carrying out alongside missile attacks. The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force of Ukraine, in turn, outlined the existing capabilities and needs of Ukrainian Air Defence. 

The Allies stressed that under no circumstances should Russia's next attempt to use winter as a weapon succeed and assured of their readiness to provide Ukraine with the necessary assistance. In particular, NATO member states agreed that missile and air defence capabilities are a key guarantee of the security of Ukraine's energy system. They also stated that they are ready to provide the equipment Ukraine needs to get through the autumn and winter, including generators, transformers, spare parts, and humanitarian aid to the population. 

NATO also praised Ukraine's ability to counter attacks on the energy system, noting that the Alliance is interested in learning from Ukraine's experience. Both the Allies and Ukraine stressed that the meeting was yet another proof of the effectiveness of the NATO-Ukraine Council as a tool for cooperation and crisis management.

Both the Allies and Ukraine stressed that the meeting was yet another proof of the effectiveness of the NATO-Ukraine Council as a tool for cooperation and crisis management.