The G7 heads of foreign affairs have released a statement regarding the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, in which they demand that Russia has to hand back full control over the ZNPP to Ukraine immediately.

"In that context, we demand that Russia immediately hand back full control to its rightful sovereign owner, Ukraine, of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant as well as of all nuclear facilities within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders to ensure their safe and secure operations. Ukrainian staff operating the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant must be able to carry out their duties without threats or pressure. It is Russia’s continued control of the plant that endangers the region," reads the statement on the official website of the German Federal Foreign Office.

The Ukrainian personnel responsible for the operation of these facilities, the ministers add.

"It is Russia’s continued control of the plant that endangers the region," they say.

The ministers expressed support for IAEA Director General Grossi’s efforts to strengthen nuclear safety and security in Ukraine.

They underlined the importance of facilitating a mission of IAEA experts to the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant to address nuclear safety, security and safeguard concerns, in a manner that respects full Ukrainian sovereignty over its territory and infrastructure.

"IAEA staff must be able to access all nuclear facilities in Ukraine safely and without impediment, and engage directly, and without interference, with the Ukrainian personnel responsible for the operation of these facilities," they concluded.

On August 6, the European Union condemned Russia's military activities in the area around the Zaporizhzhya NPP.

In a telephone conversation with President of the European Council, Charles Michel, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for a stronger international response to what he termed "Russian nuclear terror" after the recent shelling at the ZNPP.

On August 9, the IAEA announced that shelling at the ZNPP had damaged the station, but radiation was normal.