G7 foreign ministers to discuss with Sybiha repair of Chornobyl containment structure

Ukraine will raise the issue of repairs to the New Safe Confinement at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, which was damaged in a Russian strike in 2025, at a meeting of G7 foreign ministers on 26 March.

According to a French diplomatic source, G7 foreign ministers will discuss the repair of the containment structure at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

A source told European Pravda: "The repair of the containment structure at Chornobyl will be discussed during the working session on 26 March focused on recovery. The arch-shaped structure was hit by a Russian drone in 2025. As the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster approaches, efforts will focus on strengthening our capacity to repair the structure."

According to the source, Sybiha will take part in the session.

Odile Renaud-Basso, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), has also been invited to join the discussion, as the EBRD has an important role to play in financing the repairs to the containment structure at the Chornobyl plant.

"The EBRD plays a key role in this regard – for the first time we will have a thorough assessment of the cost of the works. It will cost at least several hundred million. We will try to find ways to finance the reconstruction of the arch," she said.

European Pravda reported earlier that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is travelling to France on Friday for talks with his G7 counterparts to discuss shared security challenges and opportunities for cooperation.

The meeting of the G7 foreign ministers is scheduled for 27 March in Cernay-la-Ville in north-central France.

It is also worth noting that French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot visited Chornobyl in July 2025 to see first-hand the damage caused by Russia to the containment structure at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

France has provided €10 million to deal with the aftermath of the strike.

In February 2025, a Russian attack drone struck the shelter over Unit No. 4 at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, causing significant damage to the New Safe Confinement.