G7 NPDG Statement in Support of IAEA Efforts to Promote Nuclear Safety and Security at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine

We, the G7 Directors General for Non-Proliferation of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States of America and the High Representative of European Union, remain deeply concerned about the serious threats that Russia’s seizure and weaponization of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant (ZNPP) poses a problem for the safety and security of this nuclear facility, its personnel and the region .

We condemn Russia’s repeated kidnappings of Ukrainian ZNPP leaders and personnel and denounce the application of other forms of pressure on the remaining Ukrainian personnel. These actions further compromise ZNPP’s nuclear safety and security by preventing key personnel from performing their essential duties. We strongly reject these irresponsible, cruel and dangerous acts and demand the immediate release of those detained.

We urge Russia to immediately return full control of the ZNPP to its rightful sovereign owner, Ukraine, to withdraw all Russian personnel from the facility, and to end any attempt to recklessly and dangerously place the ZNPP under Russian administration, which could further compromise its safety. and secure operations.

We will never recognize the attempted illegal annexations by the Russian Federation of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson and strongly condemn Russia’s control of nuclear facilities within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders. Any such attempt at annexation is null and void and has no legal effect. We reaffirm Ukraine’s full sovereignty over all of its territory, including this nuclear facility. The ZNPP and the electricity it produces belong to Ukraine, and we stress that attempts by Russia to disconnect the plant from the Ukrainian electricity grid would be unacceptable. We strongly emphasize that ZNPP should not be used for military activities or material storage.

We reaffirm the importance of the seven pillars of nuclear safety and security, as defined by the IAEA Director General, and recognize its particular urgency for Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. We support IAEA efforts to facilitate the implementation of these pillars and to maintain the safety and security of Ukrainian nuclear facilities, while fully respecting Ukrainian sovereignty. We commend the work of the Director General in ensuring the safety and security of ZNPP. We reaffirm our support for resolution GOV/2022/58 adopted on September 15 by the IAEA Board of Governors.