Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Western allies for failing to sanction Russia’s nuclear industry, accusing them of showing weakness. In his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Zelenskyy highlighted the threat posed by Russian control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which was seized by Russian forces in 2022.
Zelenskyy described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “terrorist” for taking the plant “hostage” and called for global sanctions against Russia’s nuclear sector. Despite efforts to reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuels, the European Union continues to depend on Russia’s civil nuclear industry, especially in eastern European countries.
Tensions surrounding the Zaporizhzhia plant have persisted, with both Ukraine and Russia accusing each other of compromising the facility’s safety amid ongoing missile strikes.