EU Statement at the IAEA Board of Governors on Ukraine, 10 September 2025

EU Statement at the IAEA Board of Governors on Ukraine, 10 September 2025

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of 26 European Union Member States. The following countries align themselves with this statement: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, San Marino, and Ukraine.

We thank the Director General for his report. We are grateful to the IAEA for providing crucial assistance to Ukraine, which we strongly support. We value the first-hand impartial information on the situation regarding all Ukraine´s nuclear facilities. We welcome DG Grossi's recent visits to Kyiv.

Chair,

The EU welcomes the recent Memorandum of Understanding signed by the IAEA and Ukraine at the Recovery Conference in Rome. This establishes an important framework for cooperation to support the reconstruction of the country's energy sector, which has been severely affected by Russia´s aggression.

The EU remains deeply concerned by Russia's continued military strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The Agency's recent mission to electrical substations in August provided evidence of vulnerabilities in Ukraine's electricity grid and damage caused by Russia's attacks. These military activities raise the risk of a complete loss of off-site power to all NPPs. This endangers nuclear safety and security. Military activities also continue to challenge the implementation of IAEA safeguards under Ukraine's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol.

We take note of the recent ISAMRAD mission. We share the Agency's concerns about the difficulties in maintaining effective and continuous regulatory control over radioactive sources during armed conflict. The recovery of high-activity radioactive sources in such circumstances is challenging for Ukraine.

Chair,

Turning now to the illegally seized ZNPP, the EU remains deeply concerned by the precarious nuclear safety and security situation at the ZNPP, as repeatedly highlighted by the IAEA Director General. Six of the seven pillars continue to be compromised fully or partially. The EU reiterates that they must be respected.

We remain concerned that the ZNPP has relied on a single off-site power line for several months. Moreover, the lack of availability of maintenance, licensed staff and cooling water does not allow normal operating conditions. We insist that under such circumstances all ZNPP reactors remain in cold shutdown.

We also note with concern that Agency's staff at the ZNPP continue to be denied access to the western part of the turbine halls and to the newly constructed dam by Russian armed troops, and they keep facing limitations in access and information. The IAEA must be granted unrestricted and timely access to all requested locations, information and personnel at the ZNPP.

We again commend the courage and professionalism of the IAEA staff operating under unprecedented challenges and reiterate the importance of allowing the safe passage of IAEA experts to and from the ZNPP duly on time, and in full respect of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. We call on Russia to release the unlawfully detained civilian workers of the ZNPP.

Furthermore, we are concerned about the military drone strike that took place earlier this year and seriously damaged the New Safe Confinement of Chornobyl NPP (ChNPP). The EU contributed EUR 432 million for its construction. Today, due to the damage, the risk of release of radioactive material into the environment has increased in the event of a collapse of unstable structures. Earlier this year, the EU announced an additional allocation of nearly EUR 37 million for Ukraine's nuclear safety.

Chair,

Once again, the EU urges Russia to immediately, unconditionally and completely withdraw all its military and other forces, equipment and other unauthorised personnel from the ZNPP, and the entire territory of Ukraine, and return full control to Ukraine's competent sovereign authorities. Russia's plan to connect the ZNPP to the Russian grid is another unlawful attempt to alter internationally recognised status of the ZNPP as Ukraine's facility. Russia must comply with international law and heed the IAEA General Conference and Board of Governors resolutions. The EU reiterates its condemnation of Russia's war of aggression, a blatant violation of the UN Charter and the IAEA Statute.

In conclusion, the EU will continue to support Ukraine to defend its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Therefore, the EU remains steadfast in supporting a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, including a full and unconditional ceasefire.

We once again thank the Director General for his reporting under this agenda item and encourage him to continue to closely monitor the situation and regularly issue formal and comprehensive reports to the Board.

Thank you, Chair.