IAEA Board of Governors: Statement by Denmark

Vienna, 6 – 10 June 2022

Statement by Denmark

Agenda item 9: The safety, security and safeguards implications of the situation in Ukraine

 

1. Denmark aligns itself with the EU statement delivered earlier. We condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine, and we underline our continued unwavering support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognised borders.

 

2. Russia’s deplorable actions have not stopped short of Ukraine’s nuclear installations. And Russia has failed to implement the resolution adopted by the Board more than three months ago. In particular, Russia has not ensured the full control by Ukrainian authorities over the country’s nuclear facilities. Instead, as we heard from the Director General earlier this week, almost all of the seven indispensable pillars of nuclear safety and security have been compromised.

 

3. The Director General has also made clear that the safeguards situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is not sustainable. This is a matter of serious concern given the importance of Agency safeguards for the international non-proliferation regime.

 

4. Therefore, we reiterate that the Russian invasion must be reversed. Specifically, we urge Russia to immediately withdraw its military and other personnel from the Zaporizhzhia Plant. More broadly, we reiterate the urgent call on Russia to cease all unlawful activities in order to ensure the control by the Ukrainian authorities over all nuclear facilities and materials within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders.

 

5. We support the Director General and the Agency in all its efforts to assist Ukraine in the areas of nuclear safety and security and to implement its safeguards mandate. We thank the IAEA for its missions to Ukraine and welcome its commitment to conducting a mission to the Zaporizhzhia Plant, as requested by Ukraine. We also thank the Agency for its efforts, in line with the Board’s Resolution, to closely monitor the situation and report to the Board as required and look forward to continuous reporting to the Board as long as it is necessary.