NATO closely monitoring situation around ZNPP - Stoltenberg

NATO is closely monitoring the situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP), supports IAEA experts monitoring the plant's safety, and calls on Russia to withdraw its troops from the plant site and allow unimpeded access to the plant's equipment for Ukrainian and international experts.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated this today in Brussels at a press conference on the eve of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

War is inherently dangerous and unpredictable. Of course, NATO is continuing to monitor the situation around Zaporizhzhia and the nuclear power plant very closely. NATO welcomes the fact that IAEA is also closely monitoring the situation and has experts there. This is important because ZNPP is the largest in Europe, J. Stoltenberg said.

He noted that IAEA has its responsibilities and fulfills its mandate. NATO supports IAEA's efforts to uphold nuclear safety standards. However, meeting such standards in a war zone, according to Stoltenberg, is a huge challenge.

NATO Secretary General said that Russia has a particular responsibility. The best message from NATO and IAEA is that Russia should not attack from the territory of the nuclear power plant, it should not attack the nuclear power plant itself, and it should withdraw its forces from there. This will allow the experts to fulfill their duties in the best possible way and to check that there are no mines or explosives at the plant. IAEA experts have requested additional access to make sure that the plant's security measures are being followed.

NATO continues to call on Russia to withdraw its troops from the nuclear power plant site and to provide Ukrainian and international experts with full access to it, Jens Stoltenberg added.

As previously reported, the NATO Summit will take place in Vilnius on July 11-12. One of the main issues will be the continuation of aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russian war of aggression, as well as measures to further strengthen the Alliance's deterrence and defense system.