Russia says it is impossible to transfer the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant or control over it to Ukraine or any other country.
“The return of the plant to the Russian nuclear industry is a fact that took place long ago, which the international community only needs to recognise. The transfer of the ZNPP itself or control over it to Ukraine or any other country is impossible,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website on Tuesday.
According to Moscow, “joint operation of the ZNPP with any state is also unacceptable.”
“In this case, for example, it is impossible to properly ensure nuclear and physical nuclear safety, settle the issue of civil liability for nuclear damage .An important aspect is that the close cooperation of intelligence agencies of NATO countries with Ukraine, which has significant sabotage potential, makes even temporary admission of representatives of these states to the ZNPP impossible,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
Washington reported on 19 March that US President Donald Trump discussed Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, among other things, during a conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“He said that the United States could be very helpful in managing these plants because of its expertise in electricity and utilities. American ownership of these plants would be the best protection for this infrastructure and support for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure,” the statement said.
The US later clarified that it was referring to Zaporizhzhya NPP.
Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Russian troops occupied the city of Energodar and the Zaporizhzhya NPP located near it in early March 2022.
The territory of the plant is periodically shelled, which Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of. The Ukrainian side occasionally claims that the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is on the verge of blackout due to Russian shelling and the resulting damage to power lines. Kiev also claimed that the Russian army used the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant to store military equipment and deploy its soldiers.