U.S. issues surprise Chornobyl move: Zelenskyy reacts instantly

The United States will allocate up to $100 million for the repair of the protective arch over the Chornobyl NPP to prevent radiation leaks. Additionally, Washington is asking other G7 countries to help raise the remaining funds for these urgent works.

This was stated in an official announcement by the US State Department.

U.S. proposal for Chornobyl

The American side emphasized the critical condition of the facility and called on G7 allies to help finance the project. The total amount required for the emergency restoration of the sarcophagus arch stands at $500 million.

«Without repair work, the structure can no longer provide sufficient protection, increasing the threat of a dangerous leak of highly radioactive materials into Europe,» the State Department said.

Currently, the U.S. funds are to serve as the initial contribution within a broader international initiative to maintain environmental safety at the site of the 1986 disaster.

Zelenskyy’s position and reaction

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also confirmed this news, noting the U.S. funding follows agreements from the International Chornobyl Conference on Recovery and Nuclear Safety.

«This was a deliberate Russian drone strike on the Chornobyl plant, using an analogue of the Iranian „Shahed,“ Zelenskyy said. „The confinement shielding the Chornobyl ruins protects everyone from radiation. It was built by an international coalition, and its restoration now demands over 500 million euros.“

Zelenskyy stressed that site security is a top priority and thanked the United States for bolstering the defense against radiation threats.