- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Russian President Vladimir Putin of "radiation blackmail"
- Zelensky met with IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi to talk about nuclear safety
- Ukraine receives delivery of Leopard 2 battle tanks from Germany and Challenger 2 tanks from Britain
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blasts Russian President Vladimir Putin over what he called "radiation blackmail" as Moscow controls one of Kyiv's nuclear power plants.
The global leader's remarks came after he visited the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Dnipro and met with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi. Zelensky said that he discussed the security of his country's energy security and talked about the nuclear plants.
Zelensky Accuses Putin of Radiation Blackmail
The Ukrainian president argued that his Russian counterpart was conducting radiation blackmail of the world, referencing Moscow's control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. On Monday, during Zelensky's nightly address, he added that no other terrorist had reached the same level of cynicism as Russia has and constantly continues to deepen.
Furthermore, Zelensky argued that Russia's continued control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant threatens global security. He said that holding a nuclear power plant hostage for more than a year is something that he considered the most dangerous situation in the history of the European region and the world, as per CNN.
In his meeting with Grossi, the Ukrainian president also expressed his gratitude towards the IAEA chief for his understanding and support of his country's fight against Russia and other relevant issues.
The meeting between the two officials came shortly before Zelensky traveled to Zaporizhzhia to visit the nuclear power plant. He also met with frontline soldiers and visited a regional military hospital to observe the devastation of Russian attacks in Marhanets and Nikopol.
In a statement, Zelensky said that he had a cabinet meeting in Dnipro where the commanders of the operation areas reported the actual situation on the ground. He added that each one understood that Russia must be held accountable for every assault on cities and villages in Ukraine.
Ukraine Prepares for More Fighting
The Ukrainian president also handed out medals to military troops when he visited Zaporizhzhia as they continued trying to break the back of Moscow's winter offensive before conducting a counterattack. The visit marked Zelensky's third time traveling to the front line in the past week, according to the Independent.
Recently, Putin and other Moscow officials have tried to raise concerns over the possible use of nuclear weapons in their war against Ukraine. During the weekend, the Russian president said he had agreed to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
However, Ukraine and its Western allies have condemned the announcement, and the German Foreign Ministry spokesperson called it "irresponsible" and "escalatory." In a statement, Andrea Sasse said it was another attempt by the Russian Federation at nuclear intimidation.
The situation also comes after Ukraine received delivery of Leopard 2 battle tanks and Challenger 2 tanks supplied by Germany and Britain, respectively. The added military support comes as Kyiv prepares for an expected spring offensive from Moscow, said the New York Times.
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