Zelensky Urges UN Chief and Erdogan to Curb Nuclear Risks and Preserve the Grain Pact
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres this week, calling for clear assurances about the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. The facility, controlled by Russian forces, stands as a potential flashpoint with the power to trigger radiological and humanitarian consequences that would ripple far beyond Ukraine’s borders. Zelensky stressed that any action at the plant, whether intentional or negligent, could unleash dangers that affect the global community on multiple fronts.
During the discussions, Zelensky described what he labeled deliberate threats from Russian troops at the site and warned that such moves could escalate into a disaster with consequences that extend well past the region, including disruptions to energy markets and international safety. The Ukrainian presidential office provided this assessment after talks held in Lviv, where the need to safeguard the plant and avert catastrophe was emphasized as urgent.
In Lviv, Zelensky also joined talks with António Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to assess the status of Ukraine’s grain export corridor. The corridor, opened under a recent Istanbul agreement, has allowed shipments to proceed despite wartime disruptions. Zelensky noted that the parties agreed to continue coordinating the grain initiative, while exploring enhancements to its operation and the humanitarian exchanges connected to it. He also mentioned discussions about additional development opportunities, the issue of forced and illegal deportations of Ukrainians, and the broader release of Ukrainian military and medical personnel.
The meeting took place at the Potocki Palace in Lviv. Erdogan traveled to Ukraine from Ankara, with a stop in Rzeszow, Poland, located about eighty kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Guterres arrived in Ukraine a day earlier and was slated to depart the same day, possibly stopping in Odesa to review the port facilities used for grain exports under the UN‑backed, Turkey‑assisted initiative. The conversations aimed to reinforce safety at critical facilities, sustain momentum on humanitarian corridors, and ensure the grain export mechanism remains reliable amid ongoing tensions. The participants also explored practical steps to keep this vital supply line open for global food security, while closely monitoring the evolving security situation in the region.