UN Security Council: what statements and accusations were made during a meeting in New York .
United Nations Security Council ,
KYIV. UkraineGate . 12 . August .2022 l Ukraine News .
A meeting of the UN Security Council, which Russia convened due to the shelling of ZNPP allegedly by the Ukrainian military, ended in New York.
Details
Russia is the only culprit in the risk of a possible nuclear disaster in Ukraine and must immediately withdraw its troops. This was noted to the UN Security Council by the United States, Norway, Albania and a number of other countries.
IAEA: IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi called on the parties to grant access to the Zaporizhzhia NPP. However, he noted that there is currently no threat to the safety of the nuclear power plant. The Ukrainian side is ready to help promote this mission.
Ukraine: Permanent Representative of Ukraine Sergiy Kyslytsya welcomed Russia’s readiness to assist the IAEA mission, while at the same time noted that in order to conduct it, Russia must stop shelling Nikopol and Manganese.
Russia: Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Nebenzia, accuses the Ukrainian Armed Forces of shelling nuclear power plants. He argues this position by the fact that Russia has no reason to shell “neither itself, nor the station, nor the city.” Nebenzia also said that Russia is ready to support the IAEA mission and will do everything to make it happen by the end of August.
UNITED STATES: U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Arms Control Bonnie Jenkins said Russia bears full responsibility for all possible risks at ZNPP, and called for Russia to immediately withdraw its troops from the station and Ukraine.
China: China’s representative, who currently chairs the UN, called on Russia and Ukraine to return to peace talks.
United Kingdom: The UK’s ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward, said there would be no risks to nuclear safety without Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
UN: António Guterres called for an immediate cessation of all hostilities in the area of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, as any damage could lead to catastrophic consequences.
France: The French side has stated that Russia should return control of the nuclear power plant to Ukraine. In addition, the IAEA should have access to nuclear power plants and be able to communicate with the station staff without pressure from the Russian military.
Context
On August 5, the invaders, using rocket and artillery weapons, shelled the territory of a nuclear power facility located in the temporarily occupied Enerhodar. The nitrogen-oxygen station and the joint auxiliary building of the Zaporizhzhia NPP were damaged.
On August 3, the Washington-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) estimated that Russian troops likely used the power plant to “play on Western fears of a nuclear disaster in Ukraine in order to reduce the West’s will to provide military support for ukraine’s counteroffensive.”
Isw also said Russia was “effectively using the plant as a nuclear shield to prevent Ukrainian strikes on Russian forces and equipment.”
Source: Ukrgate
