European Union and more than 40 countries ask Russia to leave Ukrainian nuclear plant

A joint statement by the European Union and 42 other countries, including the United States, called on Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant in southern Ukraine.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) warned last week that parts of the plant had been affected due to recent attacks, risking a potential “unacceptable” radiation leak.

“We urge the Russian Federation to immediately withdraw its military forces and all unauthorized personnel from the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant,” said the joint statement, dated 12 August and published on Sunday on the website of the EU Delegation to International Organizations in Vienna.

The withdrawal must take place “so that the operator and the Ukrainian authorities can resume their sovereign responsibilities within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and that legitimate operational staff can carry out their duties without outside interference, threat or unacceptably harsh working conditions,” the statement said. communicated.

This would also “allow the IAEA to carry out its verification in accordance with Ukraine’s safeguard obligations under safe and secure conditions and in a timely manner.”

On Thursday, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the “alarming” situation at the plant had reached a “serious moment”, calling for an immediate inspection of the facility by international experts.

The joint statement expressed support for the work of the IAEA and emphasized that “the deployment of Russian military personnel and weapons at the nuclear facility is unacceptable and disregards the principles of safety, security and safeguards that all IAEA members have committed to respect. “