The statement, published this Wednesday on the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, specifies that control of the plant by the Russian nuclear industry is a fait accompli that the international community must recognize. “This decision excludes the transfer of both the station itself and control over it to another party, as well as the inadmissibility of joint management of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant with any state,” the Ministry’s statement clarifies.

The statement also emphasizes that there are no similar precedents in global practice, and that semi-general management could complicate the protection of nuclear safety and the regulation of liability for nuclear damage.

Furthermore, since February 2022, when the plant was transferred to Russian hands, representatives of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have not been allowed to enter the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.

The Russian Foreign Ministry also noted the potential for sabotage by the intelligence services of NATO countries cooperating with Ukraine. This makes even a temporary presence of NATO representatives at the station impossible.

On the other hand, Vladimir Zelensky also disagreed with US President Donald Trump’s proposal to transfer control of Ukrainian nuclear power plants to the United States.

Washington initially proposed taking control of Ukrainian nuclear power plants as part of the agreement with Ukraine; however, Russia warned that transferring Ukrainian nuclear power plants to US control would create risks for Russia.

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