Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has denounced the handover of control of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant from Ukraine to Russia and emphasised that the EU will not accept this action.
In a statement released today, Borrell stated, “The European Union strongly condemns the directive of Russian President Putin to the unlawful acquisition of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and the creation of a state enterprise for this purpose.”
The senior European diplomat emphasised that the EU “strongly condemns” Russia’s illegitimate annexation of the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson.
Borrell emphasised the need to adhere to the seven indispensable pillars of nuclear safety and security, as defined by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the urgent need to strengthen Presence of the International Atomic Energy Agency on site and unrestricted access to the station, calling on Moscow to “completely withdraw its military forces and equipment, and return control of the plant to its rightful owner, Ukraine.”
The European Union fully supports the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency in his efforts to “create an immediate nuclear safety and security protection zone, without prejudice to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he emphasised.
Borrell emphasised that the EU will continue to give Kyiv “economic, military, social and financial support” and that the EU “remains steadfast in its support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders” and “demands Russia to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine.” Regardless of how long it takes.
Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, signed a law last Wednesday transferring control of the Zaporizhia nuclear power facility to Russia. In terms of the quantity of units and output, the facility on the banks of the Dnieper River is the biggest nuclear power station in Europe.
The transfer of administration of the Zaporizhia station to Russia is condemned by the European Union.
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