In a recent interview with Newsweek, Russia’s ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, accused Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, of attempting to drag NATO into the conflict by orchestrating a false-flag attack on Europe’s largest nuclear power plant. Antonov stated that “from the very beginning of the special military operation, all the accusations of the Zelensky regime against us turned out to be sabotage operations of Kiev itself.” He emphasized that this time, the stakes have grown substantially, with Europe’s nuclear security being put at risk.
Zelensky has accused Russia of planting explosives at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). However, Antonov dismissed these accusations as absurd, pointing out that Russia has been in control of the facility since March 2022. He claimed that Kiev’s intentions are criminal and serve to divert attention from the failed counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to Antonov, the Zelensky government is falsely accusing Russia as a ‘nuclear terrorist’ ahead of the NATO summit in order to draw the US-led bloc into the conflict directly. He warned that the failures on the battlefield make Kiev eager to create a pretext for the deployment of the NATO contingent to Ukraine, potentially escalating the regional conflict into World War III. Antonov called on the curators of the Kiev regime, referring to Western ruling elites, to exercise responsibility and exert influence on their ‘wards’ to avoid a large-scale catastrophe.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been conducting inspections at the ZNPP and reported on Wednesday that they have found no signs of any mines, contradicting Kiev’s initial claims. The IAEA observer mission was deployed to the ZNPP in September 2022, following repeated attacks on the facility by Ukrainian artillery. Ukrainian commandos also attempted to seize the facility but were driven back prior to the arrival of the IAEA mission.
Russia has provided evidence of Ukrainian attacks on the ZNPP to the UN, but the blame has not been officially assigned by the international organization.
The escalating tensions between Russia and Ukraine, combined with the allegations of a false-flag attack, have raised concerns about the potential for a larger conflict. The international community, particularly the Western powers, must carefully consider the implications of the situation in Ukraine and work towards de-escalation. The consequences of a full-scale war could be catastrophic for not only the region but also the entire world.
It is crucial for the Western ruling elites to exercise restraint and prevent any actions that could further exacerbate the situation. Diplomatic negotiations and dialogue should be prioritized to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. The world cannot afford another devastating global conflict, and it is the responsibility of all nations involved to ensure that tensions are de-escalated and a peaceful solution is reached.
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