Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant to not operate under occupation - Zelenskyy
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will not operate under Russian occupation, but its restoration is possible, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated. However, there are currently no negotiations regarding the transfer of the nuclear power plant back under Ukrainian control, according to his statement during a Zoom briefing for journalists.
“There is no stage of negotiations. If there were any talks, I would have told you. This is important for us. I believe that the plant will not operate under occupation. I believe the plant can be restored – that's a fact. I openly said that it would take about two years on average, maybe two and a half. This is what nuclear specialists say,” President Zelenskyy stated.
He emphasized that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is crucial for Ukraine, its people, and Europe, especially in terms of joining the European electrical grid. At the same time, Russians have created problems for its operation.
“We can do all of this. What they blew up, the dam, had a serious impact. Technically, it severely damaged the plant. There's no water, and that’s a big problem. It will not operate like this,” the president informed.
He added that for the plant to operate safely, Ukrainians must be involved. Not just because it's our plant and our land, but for safe operations.
“You know, this is absolutely wrong. So simply handing over the plant to someone - to whom exactly? And if it's our plant and we want it to function, for it to be safe, Ukrainians must be involved. Not only because it’s ours and it’s our land, but also because temporarily we need the plant to be restored and technically safe for the whole world. That’s why,” Zelenskyy stated.
The president also emphasized that no one will work if everything within a meter of the plant is occupied, and at any moment, the Russians could destroy it.
“Just giving away the plant, while everything within a meter of it is occupied, or there’s Russian weaponry – no one will work under such conditions. No one will believe it. Because it’s impossible. It means that tomorrow it will start working, and the next day, the Russians will blow it up. Well, that’s not serious. Right now, these are general things. We began talking about this with President Trump. Any beginning of conversations, when we want to restore something and get it working, I consider these to be positive steps. I’m not sure we will get a result quickly, but I’m confident these are positive steps,” Zelenskyy concluded.
