In the news –
A potential explosion at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) will not end the conflict in Ukraine, but will inflict a colossal damage to all countries of the continent, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.
“Even if they blow up the station – this will not end the war. It will inflict colossal damage to the entire Europe, and not just Europe, but the entire Eurasian continent. The American continents will also be affected. But it will not end the war,” the Belarusian leader said at a meeting with foreign and Belarusian reporters.
Lukashenko also said that he did not discuss the situation around the ZNPP with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We did not discuss the situation at the ZNPP with President Putin. The situation is simple: unless you, the Americans and Ukraine, want the thing that you are talking about to happen there, it will not happen. Russia has no need to blow up the ZNPP. It is in the hands of the Russians. Why blow it up?” he underscored.
Prior to the June 23 visit of IEAE Director General Rafael Grossi to Moscow, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky accused Moscow of allegedly preparing a terror attack at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant. Without providing any proof, he notified Brazil, India, China, the US, as well as European, Middle Easter and African countries about it.
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Zelensky’s statement as yet another lie. Rosenergoatom CEO’s Advisor Renat Karchaa opined that these claims may indicate that Kiev is preparing a terror attack or a strike at the ZNPP in order to pull NATO into the Ukrainian conflict. On June 23, Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya underscored that Moscow is highly concerned over Kiev’s increasingly frequent claims of the alleged mining of the ZNPP by Russia. He noted that the IAEA mission, who visited the power plant recently, was able to ensure the absurdity of such claims.
Accusations of Nuclear Terrorism: LDPR Party Leader Alleges Zelensky’s Sinister Plans –
Leonid Slutsky: Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is planning to blow up the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in the run-up to NATO’s July summit and then pin the terrorist attack on Russia, thereby dragging the alliance into the conflict.
“Everything indicates that Zelensky intends to lay ‘his last card’ on the table ahead of the NATO summit and blow up the Zaporozhye NPP. The objective is monstrous – to use a nuclear terrorist attack in order to place the blame on Russia and force the collective West to get directly involved in the Ukraine conflict,” Slutsky wrote on his Telegram channel.
Tensions surrounding the ZNPP continue to rise: and concerns are growing among European capitals and the international community. Slutsky argues that recent interactions between European leaders and President Zelensky hint at mounting concerns over the situation.
“According to Rosenergoatom, a number of European leaders were in intense contact with Zelensky last night. The reason is crystal clear – to persuade the Ukrainian Fuhrer who has lost his mind after ‘the counteroffensive’ stalled, to abandon his plans. The general implications for all of Europe are also clear,” the senior lawmaker believes.
Slutsky claims that persuading Zelensky to abandon his alleged plans should be a priority for these leaders to prevent a potential nuclear disaster.
“Brussels and Washington have every chance of finding themselves among the sponsors of nuclear terrorists and they will be responsible for the repercussions from the ZNPP explosion,” the lawmaker concluded.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has dismissed Zelensky’s claims of a terrorist attack plot as baseless fabrications. Renat Karchaa, advisor to the CEO of Russia’s Rosenergoatom nuclear power plant operator, has even suggested that Zelensky’s accusations may actually serve as evidence of Ukraine’s own intentions to attack the ZNPP. These conflicting narratives only add to the uncertainty surrounding the issue.
International Concerns Mount: Europe and US Engage in Intense Talks with Ukrainian President
With the NATO summit just around the corner, the allegations regarding the ZNPP have intensified geopolitical tensions. The summit, scheduled to take place in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12, now faces the added challenge of addressing this escalating situation. The international community is expressing growing concerns about the potential repercussions of any action taken at the ZNPP.
Sources:
TASS – Explosion at ZNPP not to end war in Ukraine, to seriously harm Europe — Lukashenko
TASS – Zelensky set to blow up Zaporozhye NPP ahead of NATO summit, says senior Russian lawmaker
BNN – Tensions Rise as Accusations Fly Over Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant