Ukraine's Foreign Minister recently met with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to discuss the reported drone strike on the Chernobyl nuclear power plant by Russia. The meeting took place in Germany during the annual Munich Security Conference, where global leaders are gathered.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister emphasized the need for strong international responses to what Ukraine perceives as Russia's nuclear blackmail. He handed over a letter from Ukraine's energy minister detailing the potential consequences of the reported strike on Chernobyl.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Vice President JD Vance are among the leaders attending the conference, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Earlier accusations by President Zelensky pointed to Moscow targeting the concrete shell of the former Chernobyl plant, a claim that the Kremlin has denied.
Additionally, discussions between the Foreign Minister and the IAEA Director General touched upon Russia's continued occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Russian forces seized control of the ZNPP in March 2022 during the initial stages of the invasion, leading to concerns about nuclear safety.
The IAEA had previously raised alarms about violations of nuclear safety principles at the ZNPP while it was under Russian control. Despite challenges, efforts were made to ensure the reactors were put into a 'cold shutdown' status by mid-2023 to mitigate the risk of a nuclear incident.
The Foreign Minister highlighted Russia's obstruction of IAEA operations at the ZNPP and stressed the importance of returning the plant to Ukrainian control. Both parties agreed on the necessity of restoring Ukrainian authority over the ZNPP to safeguard nuclear safety in the region.
