Ukraine has proposed amendments to the International Atomic
Energy Agency’s (IAEA) statute to give the agency clearer power to respond when
a member state deliberately creates nuclear safety risks, Foreign Minister Andrii
Sybiha announced on Feb. 3.
In a Twitter post, the minister stated that the current rulebook “has no response when a state deliberately undermines the conditions for safe and secure use of nuclear energy, yet continues to exercise full governance rights within the Agency.” The message did not name Russia directly.
“Ukraine proposes a clear mechanism of disqualification from IAEA decision-making in such cases,” Sybiha added.
“This is not about politics, but about credibility, safety and justice.”
On Jan. 20, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi reported that recent Russian strikes had damaged several facilities critical to nuclear safety, including cutting off external power at the shutdown Chornobyl nuclear plant.