Austria commits €1 million to support IAEA's nuclear monitoring operations in Ukraine

Austria will allocate €1 million ($1.059 million) for the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Ukraine, said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, Alexander Schallenberg, at the general conference of the IAEA in Vienna.

He recalled that the occupation of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, the largest in Europe, by Russian troops continues, and noted the activities of the IAEA to prevent nuclear incidents.

He also declared his full support for the IAEA and the five main principles that the Agency has developed for Ukraine.

"19 months ago, Russia brutally invaded its sovereign neighbour Ukraine. Since then, it has continued its irresponsible and unacceptable acts," the statement said.

Schallenberg slammed the gross violation of the UN charter, the use of nuclear threats and blackmail, as well as the placement of nuclear weapons in Belarus.

"Russia has also shown utter disrespect for the central pillars of the Agency and its work on nuclear safety by occupying the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant," the minister added.

In May Austria announced it will finance the purchase of mine-clearing equipment for Ukraine for €2 million ($2.119 million).