U.S. at UNSC: Russia using captured nuclear plant in Ukraine as pawn in its dirty war

That’s according to Ambassador to the United Nations Jeffrey DeLaurentis, who spoke at the meeting of the UN Security Council, Ukrinform's own correspondent reports.

"[T]his is a matter of international nuclear safety and security. The potential danger here is enormous. It concerns us all. And so once again, we support Ukraine’s call for the demilitarization of the area surrounding the Zaporizhzhya facility. And we demand Russia’s immediate withdrawal from Ukraine’s sovereign territory.," the diplomat said.

“Despite Russia’s song and dance here today to avoid acknowledging responsibility for its actions, Russia has no right to expose the world to unnecessary risk and the possibility of nuclear catastrophe,” the statement said.

The American ambassador emphasized that “this is a situation entirely of Russia’s making.”

“The current danger at Zaporizhzhya is a result of Russia’s unprovoked and unlawful invasion of Ukraine. And specifically, it is a result of Russia’s premeditated March 4th seizure of this plant," said DeLaurentis.

At the same time, he noted that the Zaporizhia NPP and the electricity it generates belong to Ukraine.

"Any attempt by Russia to disconnect the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant from Ukraine and redirect the power it generates toward Russia would be highly provocative, selfish, and short-sighted. We reject all efforts by Russia to use Ukraine’s electric grid as a pawn in this unjustified war and Ukraine’s nuclear power plant as a military shield or deployment site.," the US representative emphasized.

He emphasized again that the Kremlin is responsible for the crisis, and it is only the Russian Federation that can put an end to it. "The Russian Federation must end its reckless behavior and immediately withdraw its troops, not only from the area surrounding Zaporizhzhya, but from all of Ukraine," the American diplomat said.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on Tuesday the Russian Federation initiated a meeting of the UN Security Council to consider the situation at the Zaporizhia NPP. The Kremlin has traditionally tried to use the UN Security Council as a platform for spreading false narratives and disinformation, accusing the Armed Forces of Ukraine of attacking the Russian-captured nuclear power plant, whose premises are in fact being regularly shelled by Russian troops.