Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of maximizing the risk of a nuclear disaster at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which was taken over by Russian forces in early March.
Addressing a meeting of allies from across northern Europe, Zelensky recalled the Chernobyl disaster.
“If the Soviet authorities tried to hide the Chernobyl disaster and its full consequences, then the Russian authorities are much more cynical and dangerous. They themselves do everything to maximize the risk of a nuclear disaster and lie to the whole world that someone else is allegedly to blame,” he said.
Zelensky accused Russia of turning the nuclear power plant into a “battlefield.”
“The Russian occupation army is using the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant for terror and armed provocations,” he added.
The Ukrainian president also reiterated his demand that Russia be declared a terrorist state and also urged tougher sanctions.
Russia “simply would not have a combat-ready army in modern conditions if it were not for imported parts. Electronics, optics and many other parts of foreign production are used in the creation of missiles, drones, means of communication, armored vehicles, etc. This flow of technical assistance to Russian terror must be completely stopped,” he said.
Ukraine also needs continued supply of weapons in order to force Russia to “finally think about finding a peaceful solution,” Zelensky said, adding an appeal for financial support.
Ukraine’s monthly deficit of is about $5 billion dollars, he told the Allied conference. “Ukraine needs reconstruction. Now. We need to carry out demining. And, of course, we need to prepare defenses for winter conditions,” he said. “Financial support for our state, for the budget and for fast recovery is as vital as weapons and ammunition for our army and sanctions against Russia.”