EU stockpiles iodine pills and nuclear-protective gear — Analysis
In light of the Ukraine conflict, the European Commission has hastened plans to improve the bloc’s incident response mechanisms
While the war in Ukraine continues, the European Commission has asked EU member countries to continue to store iodine and other approved drugs. The European Commission is also increasing preparations to deal with any possible chemical attack or biological attack.
“The commission is working to ensure it enhances preparedness in the area of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats generally, and this predates the war in Ukraine,”According to a spokesperson, Monday’s Financial Times report was made by the bank.
Russia placed its nuclear weapons on alert just days after it launched its military operations in Ukraine in February. It cited what it called the “The Russian Revolution.” “aggressive statements”NATO, and the severe financial sanctions that the West imposes on them.
In early March, there was a fire at Ukraine’s Zaporozhskaya nuclear power plant, which has been seized by Russian forces. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated there was no fire. “no critical impact on safety”The plant.
A few days later, Moscow announced it had prevented an attempt by what it called Ukrainian radicals to cut power to the former Chernobyl nuclear power station, which became the site of the world’s most devastating nuclear disaster in 1986.
These two events have caused a surge in demand for potassium-iodine tablets in Russia, the EU and the USA. The pills help to reduce radiation’s impact on the human body. March was a busy month for pharmacies all over Europe, including those in Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Belgium.
The EU’s preparations for nuclear incidents are being led by the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), which was established last September after the bloc was caught off guard by the Covid-19 pandemic. European legislators insist that HERA must work more quickly to keep pace with events in Ukraine.
“We need to draw strong lessons from Covid. For nuclear sites, we need specific steps. We’re not prepared. We do not have the stocks,” Véronique Trillet-Lenoir, a European parliamentarian representing French president Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche party, said, adding that the bloc also had to develop a system of alerts and monitoring.
Russia sent its troops into Ukraine on 24 February, following a seven-year standoff over Kiev’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements, and Russia’s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. The protocols were German and French-brokered to normalize those areas within Ukraine’s state.
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Russia now demands that Ukraine declare itself neutral and vows to not join NATO’s military bloc. Kiev maintains that Russia’s offensive was not provoked and denies claims that it planned to seize the two republics.
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