Zelensky to discuss peaceful de-occupation of Zaporizhzhia NPP with Grossi

This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a joint press conference with Moldova’s President Maia Sandu, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“In 2022, during Russia’s full-scale invasion, our Chornobyl NPP was occupied. It is no secret that various types of terrorist acts were being planned there at the time. We liberated and de-occupied our plant and, in my view, prevented a potential act of terrorism,” he recalled.

The Ukrainian President stressed that Russia continued its attacks, using drones and causing strikes, and that international partners were involved in restoring the sarcophagus.

“To this day, risks remain, and this is undoubtedly linked to the fact that the war has not ended,” Zelensky added.

The President noted that Russia had also occupied the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, “used heavy weapons against the reactor units and administrative buildings, and eventually seized the plant, whose six power units are currently not operating.”

“The longer this process continues, the greater the risks become, including for a major nuclear plant, which could even exceed the risks of Chornobyl,” he said.

Zelensky stressed the importance of drawing on the experience of Japan and other partners to pressure the aggressor diplomatically into leaving the plant and restoring its operation.

“Today we will have a meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to put pressure on all partners to engage with the IAEA and join initiatives, and to find an exclusively diplomatic path so that the plant is de-occupied peacefully and management is returned to Ukraine. Only then will we be able to say that, from that moment on, it will be safe for people and for the planet,” he added.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, President Zelensky said that Russia has not learned the lessons of the Chornobyl disaster and called on international partners to unite in the face of modern nuclear and security threats.