Ukraine has sent a note to the European Commission regarding the possible intensification of nuclear energy cooperation with Russia, expecting that the decision on the joint project between Rosatom and Hungary will be revised. This was announced by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal.
"Ukraine has sent a note to the European Commission regarding the possible intensification of cooperation in nuclear energy with Russia. Rosatom is part of the Putin regime, which supports his terrorist activities and endangers nuclear facilities. We expect that the preliminary decision on the implementation of the project by Rosatom construction of nuclear reactors in Hungary will be reviewed," Shmyhal said in Telegram.
The head of the government said that he raised this issue during a speech at a session dedicated to Ukraine within the framework of the OECD Council meeting at the ministerial level. Against the background of the disaster at the Kakhovskaya HPP and the occupation of the Zaporizhzhya NPP, such steps look surreal, he noted.
"Sanctions against Russia should be strengthened, in particular in areas such as nuclear energy. We should do everything to make business as usual with a terrorist country impossible and no longer support the Russian military machine," the prime minister added.
Hungary received the approval of the European Commission to make changes to the contract for the construction of two power units of the Paksh-2 nuclear power plant concluded with Rosatom.
In April, Hungary received the first batch of nuclear fuel for the Paks nuclear power plant from Russia by air after the war in Ukraine prevented rail delivery.
The European Union's 11th package of sanctions under discussion has no restrictions on Russia's state nuclear company Rosatom. According to a senior EU official, although member states are reducing their dependence on Russian energy, the bloc will not formally target Rosatom in the upcoming sanctions package.
The European Union has yet to agree on a new package of sanctions against the Russian Federation. Hungary and Greece do not agree with the fact that Ukraine included some of their companies in the list of "war sponsors".