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Statement by the Republic of Estonia on behalf of the Baltic States – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania at the Briefing of the United Nations Security Council on threats to international peace and security on Tuesday, 30 May 2023.

Thank you Mr. Chair,

I have the honor to be speaking on behalf of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

We thank the Director General Grossi for his insightful briefing. We commend you and the International Atomic Energy Agency for your hard work in closely monitoring the nuclear safety and security situation in Ukraine and keeping the international community informed. We continue to support your efforts to reach agreement on the protection of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, in full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Mr. Chair,

Russia´s more than yearlong unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine has a direct devastating effect on the nuclear security and safety in Ukraine. Not only have Russian forces occupied the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, but they have turned it into a military base where they hold the staff of the NPP as hostage. Russia’s actions cause immense safety and security risks not only for Ukraine, but also on regional and global scale, which directly contradict the mandate entrusted to the Security Council members - maintaining international peace and security. This is completely unacceptable and must stop immediately.

Russian armed attack on and threat against Ukrainian nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes, constitutes a violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Each of the IAEA’s seven indispensable pillars for ensuring nuclear safety and security has been compromised as a result of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Russia must be held accountable and should have no right to any privileges in the International Organizations such as the IAEA. Moreover, Russian state sponsored companies should be completely barred from the world’s peaceful nuclear energy market.

Against this backdrop, the International Atomic Energy Agency´s continued presence at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant and other nuclear power plants in Ukraine, is of crucial importance. We highly value all the efforts and actions taken by the IAEA be it diplomatic or financial to assist Ukraine, and we will continue to support the IAEA in this regard.

Mr. Chair,

The only effective way to ensure nuclear safety and security in Ukraine is for Russia to immediately withdraw its occupational forces, mercenaries and personnel from all of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

To conclude, our message to Russia is – stop undermining European and global security. Stop this war now.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.