EU Statement on Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine at the 69th Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference, 18 September 2025

EU Statement on Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine at the 69th Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference, 18 September 2025

President,

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

More than three and a half years have passed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, an act that constitutes a flagrant violation of the UN Charter and the very principles of the IAEA Statute.

We commend Director General Grossi and the Agency's experts for their determination and courage in maintaining presence at Ukraine's Nuclear Power Plants, despite challenging and dangerous conditions. Their monitoring work remains essential to keeping the international community informed about nuclear safety, security, and safeguards in Ukraine, as well as delivering necessary assistance. We also thank the Agency for continuing to implement safeguards under Ukraine's Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and the Additional Protocol in these circumstances. We welcome the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the IAEA and Ukraine in Rome, which aims to support Ukraine's energy reconstruction efforts.

The EU and its Member States calls for the respect of the seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security during armed conflict.

Russia's continuing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure pose grave risks to nuclear safety and security. The EU is deeply concerned by the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which, since May, has depended on a single off-site power line out of ten. Military activity continues to prevent the repair and reconnection of a backup line, further weakening an already fragile safety and security environment. We urge Russia to allow essential repairs to take place. The lack of proper maintenance, licensed staff and of cooling water do not allow normal operating conditions. The five concrete principles to help ensure nuclear safety and security at Ukraine's ZNPP, as presented by the Director General, should be fulfilled in full extent.

We are also concerned by significant intensification of Russian drone strikes, which further jeopardize the nuclear safety and security of all of Ukraine's NPPs. Of particular concern are the IAEA's reports of multiple drones flying near other Ukrainian NPPs, posing direct threats to nuclear safety and security. In February, a drone strike seriously damaged the New Safe Confinement at Chornobyl, undermining years of international effort and nearly EUR 1.5 billion of investment. The EU alone has contributed EUR 432 million to this project. Earlier this year, the EU pledged an additional EUR 37 million for nuclear safety in Ukraine, part of which will support repairs to the New Safe Confinement.

The damage from Russian drone strikes to the critical substations, as observed and documented by the IAEA's teams, also pose risks to the safety of Ukraine's nuclear facilities. Furthermore, this increases the risk of a complete loss of off-site power, placing nuclear safety in even greater peril.

We also take note of the challenges that Ukraine is facing in maintaining effective and continuous regulatory control, as well as in recovering high-activity radioactive sources during an armed conflict.

In this context, we ask the Agency to brief Member States on its findings concerning the application of its safety standards and nuclear security guidance during armed conflicts.

President,

The EU unequivocally condemns Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. We reiterate our call on Russia to comply with the IAEA General Conferences and Board of Governors resolutions. Russia must immediately and unconditionally withdraw its military and other unauthorized personnel and equipment from the ZNPP and from the entire territory of Ukraine, and return full control to Ukraine's competent sovereign authorities.

We also call upon all States and international organisations to refrain from any action that would recognise any alteration by Russia of the status of any of the Ukrainian regions and the ownership of the ZNPP.

A lasting and resilient energy system can only be achievable through a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine including a full and unconditional ceasefire. The EU reiterates its unwavering support for such a peace, in line with the principles of the UN Charter, based on full respect for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We remain committed to offer robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression.

In closing, the EU calls on all delegations to support the work of the IAEA in Ukraine and to vote in favour of the draft Resolution before us.

Thank you, President.