Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated on Sunday that NATO leaders should discuss the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine during their upcoming summit this week.
Zakharova accused Ukraine of "systematically damaging" the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, saying, "The main focus of the NATO summit should be on this matter," referring to the plant. She added, "In any case, the vast majority of member states will be in the area directly affected if a disaster occurs at the plant."
NATO leaders are scheduled to meet in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, on July 11 and 12 to discuss various topics, ranging from divisions over Ukraine's request for NATO membership to Sweden's accession efforts, enhancing ammunition stocks, and reviewing defense plans for the first time in decades.
Vilnius is located about a thousand kilometers from the nuclear plant, which is the largest in Europe. Russia and Ukraine have exchanged accusations of planning to attack the plant, which is situated in the Zaporizhzhia region currently under Russian control.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly warned of a serious threat facing the facility and recently stated that Russian forces have mined the surface of several reactors.
Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) present at the plant noted that they have not yet observed any indications of mines or explosives, but they need to confirm this by accessing all parts of the facility.
