KEY POINTS
- Ukraine calls for intensified efforts to ensure nuclear safety amid Russian occupation of Zaporizhzhia plant.
- Over 70 countries and international organizations attended a summit in France focused on nuclear security.
- President Zelenskiy’s “victory plan” aims to bring Russia to peace negotiations, with nuclear safety a key issue.
Ukraine has urged the international community to step up efforts to ensure nuclear safety as Russia continues to occupy the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station. Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, highlighted the dangers posed by Russia’s military control of Europe’s largest nuclear facility during a nuclear safety summit held in France.
Concerns over Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Yermak called Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia plant an unprecedented violation of international law and nuclear safety standards. Since being seized by Russian forces, the station has stopped producing power, but its strategic significance and potential risk remain high. Yermak accused Russia of turning the plant into a military base, with workers operating under constant threat and pressure.
“Seizing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station has become a large-scale militarization of nuclear power,” Yermak stated. According to Reuters, the summit, attended by over 70 countries and international organizations, focused on nuclear safety risks amid the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who hosted the summit, emphasized the urgency of addressing these risks, noting the potential dangers to regional security. France continues to support the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in monitoring the plant and has pushed for more robust discussions on how to reopen the facility when peace is restored.
International response and ongoing risks
Both Russia and Ukraine frequently accuse each other of launching attacks near the Zaporizhzhia plant. The IAEA has stationed observers at the facility and has repeatedly called for restraint from both sides to prevent a nuclear disaster. Yermak’s plea for stronger international action reflects the growing concern over the plant’s vulnerability in a war zone.
Beyond the immediate safety concerns, Yermak discussed Ukraine’s broader nuclear security efforts and reiterated the importance of upholding international norms during armed conflicts.
The Zaporizhzhia facility, with its six reactors, could play a vital role in Ukraine’s reconstruction, as France highlighted during the summit. Plans to reactivate the plant in a post-war Ukraine could significantly contribute to the country’s energy recovery.
Future peace negotiations
The meeting also acted as a venue to debate future peace efforts. Yermak added that Ukraine plans to undertake discussions on all elements of President Zelenskiy’s proposed peace plan by the end of October. Zelenskiy’s most recent “victory plan” was presented to NATO and the EU with the intention of negotiating with Russia.
Zelenskiy is still committed to seeking diplomatic solutions, despite Russia’s refusal to participate in the recent peace summit and its stated hesitancy to attend future discussions.
Nuclear safety is still a major worry as the war rages on, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear station represents the conflict’s wider dangers. The international community is still advocating for steps to guarantee the plant’s security and lessen the risks associated with having a nuclear facility in the midst of an active conflict zone, thanks to initiatives like the IAEA.
