On Thursday, 26 March, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha participated in the "Reconstruction" session in Paris, alongside the Foreign Ministers of the G7 nations, the President of the EBRD, and the Foreign Ministers of Brazil, India, the Republic of Korea, and Saudi Arabia.
One of the topics of the meeting was the restoration of the protective confinement of the Chernobyl NPP, which was damaged by a Russian drone strike in February 2025.
During his address, Andrii Sybiha emphasized the systemic nature of nuclear threats from Russia. According to the Minister, the Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and its transformation into a military base, the destruction of the Kakhovka dam, as well as attempts to appropriate the ZNPP and connect it to Russia's power grid, could have catastrophic consequences. He urged partners to prevent these threats.
"Throughout the past year and especially this winter, Russia has carried out massive attacks on Ukraine's energy system, including nuclear facilities. My message is very simple: do not wait for a new Chernobyl. The consequences could be catastrophic. Act now to prevent the threats. Our resolve in protecting nuclear safety today will be the best tribute to the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster," the Minister stated.
The Head of the MFA stressed the necessity of imposing sanctions against Rosatom and restricting the aggressor state's rights within the IAEA. Ukraine has already proposed relevant amendments to the organization's statute and counts on the support of its partners. He also called for the expansion of IAEA missions' presence at Ukraine's nuclear facilities.
"There should be no steps toward legitimizing Russia's actions or its occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Pressure is needed to force Russia to return the station to its lawful owner — Ukraine. Moscow must clearly understand that the international community resolutely rejects its nuclear blackmail. Only an adequate response can compel it to stop violating international rules," he remarked.
Andrii Sybiha emphasized that Russia's strategy of nuclear blackmail shares much in common with Iran's actions. The Minister noted that these two regimes cooperate and adopt each other's methods.
"We are convinced: only strength and resolve can put an end to nuclear blackmail both in the Middle East and in Europe. This is the main lesson of Chernobyl, and we must learn it before it is too late," he stressed.
The Head of the MFA thanked the IAEA for its important work, as well as Ukraine's partners and allies for their comprehensive support.
The Minister recalled the horrific consequences of the Chernobyl accident, the responsibility of the Soviet regime for it, and the heroism of the liquidators in overcoming its aftermath.
Andrii Sybiha also informed the participants about the dynamics of peace efforts, Ukraine's readiness for constructive steps to end the war, and the need to increase pressure on Russia, which currently shows no readiness for diplomacy.
During the meeting, the Minister of France, which holds the G7 Presidency, emphasized that the restoration of the damaged shelter over the Chernobyl NPP is a priority for the G7 countries and the EBRD, highlighting the leading role of France and the G7 in implementing this international project.
The President of the EBRD provided the attendees with a detailed briefing on the state of the shelter after the damage caused by the Russian drone, the planned stages of reconstruction, and the needs for consolidating the necessary resources.
The Foreign Minister of Ukraine expressed his gratitude to the partners from the G7 and the EBRD for their readiness to find the necessary resources and restore the shelter over the Chernobyl NPP.
The partners present at the meeting assured of their continued support for Ukraine, particularly in the defense and energy sectors, agreed on the need for decisive action to neutralize nuclear threats from Russia, increased sanctions pressure on Moscow, and confirmed their readiness for new concrete contributions to strengthen Ukraine.