Johnson’s office said the prime minister and Zelensky agreed that Russia must stop the attacks immediately.
(Photo: Getty Images)
London, Enerhodar According to his office, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to request an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council after the Russian attack on a Ukrainian nuclear power plant and the fire at the plant.
The prime minister’s office said he spoke to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky early Friday morning. Johnson said Britain would raise the issue with Russia and close allies without delay.
Johnson’s office said the prime minister and Zelensky agreed that Russia must cease attacks immediately, allow emergency services full access to the nuclear facility and that a ceasefire is essential.
“The prime minister said the reckless actions of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin could now directly threaten the security of all of Europe,” the statement said. “He said (the UK) would do everything it can to ensure the situation does not deteriorate any further.”
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also said he had spoken to the Ukrainian President about the shelling of the nuclear power plant. “These unacceptable attacks by Russia must stop immediately,” Trudeau wrote on Twitter.
After a phone call with Zelensky, US President Joe Biden called on Russia to end its military activities in the area around the nuclear power plant. The Russian army must allow firefighters and rescue workers access to the site, Biden said.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also condemned the Russian shelling. He called on Russian President Putin to withdraw his troops from the country. Stoltenberg said the shelling of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhia, demonstrated the ruthlessness of the war, the importance of ending it and the importance of withdrawing all Russian forces. It also shows that good faith diplomatic efforts are important.
After a phone call with Zelenskiy, US President Joe Biden also asked Russia to end its military activities in the area around the nuclear power plant.
(Photo: AP)
The Australian government has expressed deep concern over the fire. Secretary of State Marise Payne spoke on Twitter on Friday of the “recklessness” of the Russian president. The war he triggered “poses a direct threat to critical infrastructure in Ukraine, including nuclear power plants,” the minister wrote.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a radio interview that the targeted sanctions against Russia were having an effect. “I am not one of those who believe that President Putin will be dissuaded from his murderous actions,” he said. “But that shouldn’t stop the rest of the world from continuing to press and tighten the vise.”
Through Putin, Russia has made itself a pariah state, i.e. a state that does not abide by the rules of the international community. “We can rank them with North Korea and others, and they should be treated accordingly.”
China demands to ensure safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine
China is demanding that the warring parties in Ukraine guarantee the safety of nuclear facilities. “We will monitor the situation and urge all sides to exercise restraint, avoid escalation and ensure the safety of the nuclear facilities concerned,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing.
Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde shared her concerns on Twitter on Friday morning and demanded that the Ukrainian authorities ensure effective control of the power plant. “The safety of the nuclear facilities in Ukraine must not be jeopardized under any circumstances.”
The minister linked to a tweet by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi. He appealed to all those involved to refrain from taking steps that could pose a threat to nuclear power plants.
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told Norwegian Radio that the situation in Zaporizhia is being closely monitored. At the same time, he underlined that the incident showed the totally unacceptable nature of the war. “It borders on insane to attack in this way,” Støre told NRK broadcaster.
Fire apparently extinguished
The fire in the building of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhia has been extinguished according to the authorities. There were no dead or injured, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said on Twitter on Friday morning. Burned a training complex.
The fire broke out after the alleged advance of Russian troops on the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy spoke of targeted shelling of reactor blocks by Russian tanks. The Ukrainian civil defense announced that 44 rescue workers were deployed to extinguish the fire. The information cannot be independently verified.
More: Read the current developments in the Ukraine war in the live blog here