This was stated by Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Donor Conference of Ukraine's allies from Northern Europe, Espreso.TV reports.
"For years after that disaster (at the Chernobyl NPP - Ed.) all over the world thought about how to make nuclear energy safe. For years, special standards were followed to ensure that similar disasters did not occur. And for years, absolutely no one thought that Europe could be at risk of a new disaster at a nuclear plant not because someone violates any safety standards, but because some state will deliberately use a nuclear plant for terror. This is what Russia is doing now. And if the Soviet authorities tried to hide the Chernobyl disaster and its full consequences, the Russian authorities are much more cynical and dangerous - they themselves do everything to maximize the risk of a nuclear disaster, and lie to the whole world that someone else is allegedly to blame", the president said.
He added that now it is necessary to protect Europe from this threat. Protect all together. And probably not only Europe. Because the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine is the largest on our continent. It is the third largest in the world. Six power units! During the years of operation of this station, there was not a single incident that would endanger the safety of Ukrainians or all Europeans. But now the Russian occupation army is using the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant for terror and armed provocations.
"Russia has turned the nuclear power plant into a battlefield. When the invaders came to the Zaporizhzhia NPP, their tanks fired at it. Directly aimed at the plant! Placing military equipment on the territory of the plant and even disposing of ammunition there, the Russian military cannot but know that they are putting Europe at risk of nuclear disaster And, of course, the Russian authorities are aware of the consequences of their troops shelling a nuclear plant, in particular with rocket artillery. In August, they damaged the station's communication lines to our power system, as well as the radiation monitoring sensors, the nitrogen-oxygen station, the hydrogen pipelines, and related infrastructure. Even then, Europe was a few steps away from a nuclear disaster. And now we are all in this difficult situation. We are convinced that the trajectory of the cruise missiles with which Russia is shelling the territory of Ukraine does not coincidentally pass over the Ukrainian nuclear power plants. All these are manifestations of Russian nuclear terrorism", Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Russia has become a terrorist state and is actually holding nuclear plants hostage, and blackmailing everyone with a possible disaster. It must be stopped.
"None of us can stop the wind if it carries radiation. But all of us together with you can stop a terrorist state. And the sooner we stop Russia, the sooner Europe and the world can feel safe again. Sanctions against Russia must be strengthened and not allowed to be circumvented. In response to nuclear blackmail, we need tough sanctions against Rosatom and the entire Russian nuclear industry, and not an agreement with them. Constant political pressure on Russia is needed to increase the number of countries participating in the anti-war coalition and to reduce the circle of those who are at least somehow ready to help Russia under these circumstances. And most importantly, we need even more support for Ukraine with weapons and ammunition. To really stop Russia, the Ukrainian Armed Forces must have as many shells as necessary to make it feel that Russia is unable to press on the battlefield. And Ukraine needs weapons of such power, such long-range that Russia will be forced to finally think about finding a peaceful solution", the head of Ukraine explained.