13
Jun
2023
Watch
Humanitarian and environmental consequences of the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam - Sustainable reconstruction and integration of Ukraine into the Euro-Atlantic community (debate)
Mr President, dear Commissioner, Minister, colleagues, illegal occupation, annexation, full-scale invasion, terrorist acts and now ecocide is a small part of daily life of innocent Ukrainian citizens. The destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam would disrupt the lives of thousands of people, leading force displacements, loss of homes and the breakdown of essential infrastructure. The environmental impact would be catastrophic, and we urgently need to provide the International Atomic Energy Agency with full access to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in order to check for possible discrepancy, which would have impact beyond Ukrainian borders. Russia’s act is a red line for us not to stop our support to Ukraine and for the Euro-Atlantic integration. It is already clear for everyone that the brave people of Ukraine are winning this war. We owe them not just our admiration and words of solidarity, but full-fledged support for reconstruction and development.