On the 169th day of the war, on 11 August 2022, the Head of the Ukrainian state delivered an address to the participants of the Donor Conference for Northern European Allies of Ukraine at the level of defence ministers which took place in Copenhagen.
In his online address the President of Ukraine said that Europe could be under the threat of a new catastrophe at a nuclear power plant due to the fact that Russia deliberately uses the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine – the largest on our continent and the third largest in the world – for nuclear terror and armed provocations.
“Russia can cause the largest radiation accident in history at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. In terms of actual consequences, it could be even more catastrophic than Chornobyl, and in fact – the same as the use of nuclear weapons by Russia, but without a nuclear strike… We must protect Europe from this threat. Protect all together. And probably not only Europe,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
He noted that it is necessary to stop the terrorist state by strengthening sanctions, including against “Rosatom” (State Atomic Energy Corporation of Russia) and the entire Russian nuclear industry, by increasing political pressure on Russia and providing even more support for Ukraine with weapons and ammunition. The Head of the Ukrainian state also stressed the importance of sufficient and timely financial support for Ukraine and the introduction of an effective mechanism to control the supply of components and dual-use products to Russia that can be used for the production of weapons.
“To really stop Russia, the Armed Forces of Ukraine must have as many shells as necessary to make it tangible that Russia is not able to put pressure on the battlefield. And Ukraine needs weapons of such power, such a long range that Russia is forced to finally think about finding a peaceful solution,” the President of Ukraine noted. In addition, according to him, Ukraine should carry out demining, as well as prepare the defense for winter conditions.
In turn, Prime Minister of Denmark Matte Frederiksen, who also took part in the opening of the Donor Conference, noted: “We are impressed by the heroism and resilience of the defenders and the people of Ukraine. Your resilience is invincible, but you cannot stand this unequal war alone. We must all continue to provide and increase support to Ukraine with weapons, training, demining, financially.”
Photo Credit: Ukraine and Denmark Defence Ministries