Shangri-La Dialogue: Ukraine’s Zelensky urges China’s help in nuclear safety and ending the war
- Speaking on sidelines of defence conference in Singapore, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky says Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant is in danger
- He also warns that Kyiv is on the lookout for Chinese exports of dual-use weapons systems to Russia
Without specifying what role they should play, Zelensky said he wanted to see nuclear powers, including China, help find an exit to the war – a conflict that he said threatened the whole world.
“This is a threat to the whole world. I would want China to be present, and we know their presence … There should be nuclear safety and there should be no [abuse] of any nuclear power plant, just as there should be no usage of any nuclear weapon.”
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is located in southern Ukraine but has been controlled by Russian forces since the early days of the invasion. It was reportedly damaged by a drone strike in April. Both Kyiv and Moscow have denied responsibility for the attack.
“These countries [the nuclear powers] should be interested in this,” Zelensky said. “[China] also supports territorial integrity.”
