G7 nations have condemned Russia’s occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant- Europe’s biggest plant calling on Moscow to “immediately hand back full control” of the facility to Ukraine.
The Zaporizhzhia plant has been occupied by Russian forces for months and Ukraine has accused Russia of using the plant as a nuclear shield where they fire weapons at Ukraine knowing Ukraine won’t fire back in order to avoid a nuclear disaster.
Now, the G7 foreign ministers said in a statement on Wednesday August 10, said that Ukrainian staff operating the plant “must be able to carry out their duties without threats or pressure. It is Russia’s continued control of the plant that endangers the region.”
“The Russian Federation must immediately withdraw its troops from within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders and respect Ukraine’s territory and sovereignty,” it said.
The G7 have said they remain “profoundly concerned by the serious threat” posed by Russia’s actions around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
They say the actions of Russia’s armed forces are significantly raising the risk of a nuclear accident or incident and endangering the population of Ukraine, neighbouring states and the international community.
The G7 said they reiterate the “strongest condemnation” of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which they call an “unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression”.
They say Russia’s actions also undermine the ability of the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor the safety of nuclear activities in Ukraine.
The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.
