KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized EU member states that are hammering out sanctions on the Zaporizhia nuclear plant operated by Russia’s nuclear power giant Rosatom, prompting them to take targeted action against the company’s top management.
“We still need the support of all EU leaders,” Zelensky said, speaking alongside European Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the end of the EU-Ukraine summit in Kyiv. Which means some European states are hitting. When it comes to imposing sanctions on Russia, particularly over crimes at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhia plant in southeastern Ukraine.
Zelensky said that the plant’s top managers should be added to the sanctions list, adding that the identity of those in charge is known: “What more evidence do you need?” They said.
He accused Russia of taking Ukrainian nuclear experts and top managers of the plant hostage and sending their children to Russia, calling for the ousting of countries that still refuse to impose sanctions against Rosatom’s top managers.
“What if their children were put on buses and forcefully taken to the Russian Federation?” He added that sanctions are needed in response to such “forced deportations”.
Hungary, Bulgaria, Finland and Slovakia are among countries opposing sanctions targeting Rosatom in view of the plant’s importance to their domestic energy needs.
But EU officials have privately welcomed the fact that the focus is now on targeting individuals rather than nuclear fuel, which is of little value to Russia in terms of revenue.
Zelensky also said that his government is looking at components of drones and missiles to see which parts are being provided to Russia and is helping.
Although not specifically mentioning Iran or other countries, Zelensky also called out non-EU countries that were circumventing sanctions and enabling the Russian war.
“I am hurt by the actions of countries that are our allies but economically they are Russia’s partners in this war,” he said.
The issue of sanctions came up in Friday’s private meeting between Zelensky and the presidents of the European Commission and Council. Von der Leyen said a 10th sanctions package would be agreed by February 24, the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, noting it was worth around €10 billion.
Michel also said that the European Council had managed to unanimously agree on nine sanctions packages, adding that “we must do more, and we will do more.”
Zelensky’s plea for all EU countries to roll back further sanctions against Russia comes after a thursday meeting with von der Leyen where he warned: “The pace of approvals in Europe has slowed down a bit; And the Russian terrorist state has intensified.
“The more we do this, the closer we are to defeating the Russian offensive.”
Zelensky also sounded a note of warning about his own country, urging Ukrainians to “unite” and stay motivated.
“Inspiration is not only given by the partners,” he said, but also “from the spirit within the country.”
Discussing the situation in Bakhmut, where Ukrainians are said to be suffering heavy losses, Zelensky called those who had become “heroes”, adding that faster arms deliveries would not only make a difference in Bakhmut .
He also warned that some Ukrainian cities, especially those not occupied by Russian forces, are now “relaxed” about the war – a change from the start of the Russian invasion. After that, “we were all at war,” Zelensky said.
Wilhelmine Preussen contributed reporting.