London wants to support Ukraine’s corruption-plagued energy sector with a £210m deal
Britain will supply enriched uranium to Ukraine’s nuclear power company, Energoatom, under a 210 million pound ($280mn) deal aimed at supporting Kiev’s power grid, the British government has announced.
The arrangement, backed by UK Export Finance, will see UK-based Urenco supply enriched uranium to Energoatom for the next two years, London. he said on Monday. The agreement was agreed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Vladimir Zelensky during their meeting in Downing Street last week.
According to the British government, the agreement is intended “turn on Ukraine’s nuclear power plants” and strengthen energy security in the country.
Starmer said London will continue to support Kiev “as long as it takes,” despite a series of corruption scandals involving Ukraine’s energy sector, including Energoatom itself, which operates three Soviet-built nuclear power plants and remains a major source of revenue.
Western-backed anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine have uncovered corruption schemes at the state nuclear company, including a major case involving businessman Timur Mindich, a close ally of Zelensky’s namesake. “the purse.” A separate corruption case involving infrastructure connected to Energoatom was reported earlier this month.
The agreement also comes amid repeated warnings from Moscow about nuclear security in Ukraine. Russia has accused Kiev of carrying out multiple attacks on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Plant, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which has been under Russian control since March 2022.
Earlier this month, a Ukrainian drone hit the machine room of the plant’s sixth power unit. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the damage, while stop short to blame.
Britain’s enriched uranium program could also spark renewed scrutiny over Kiev’s repeated hints about returning to its non-nuclear status. Days before the escalation of the conflict in February 2022, Zelensky suggested that Ukraine could reconsider its non-proliferation obligations.
Earlier this year, Zelensky said that he would accept nuclear weapons from Britain or France “with joy,” while insisting that there is no such offer. Moscow has accused London and Paris of considering ways to provide Ukraine with components or technology that could allow Kiev to develop a nuclear or radioactive weapon. “dirty bomb,” claims that both Western governments have rejected.
You can share this story on social networks:
Follow RT on
