(MENAFN- UkrinForm) Washington has voiced support for the Ukrainian initiative put forward in the wake of Russian strikes at the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant as regards creating a demilitarized zone around the facility.

That's according to the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, an Ukrinform own correspondent reports.

The U.S. supports“Ukrainian calls for a demilitarized zone around the nuclear power plant,” said the State Department's spokesperson.

It was noted that fighting near a nuclear plant is“dangerous and irresponsible.”

Read also: Russian invaders again fire at Zaporizhzhia NPP

“We continue to call on Russia to cease all military operations at or near Ukrainian nuclear facilities and return full control to Ukraine (of the ZNPP - ed.),” the spokesman added.

and support Ukrainian calls for a demilitarized zone around the nuclear power plant,' the spokesperson said.

He added that the Ukrainians cannot and will not return fire in order to prevent a horrific disaster at the nuclear facility, therefore shelling of the NPP is highly irresponsible.

Read also: Urgent agreement needed on safe perimeter around Zaporizhzhia NPP - UN Secretary General

As Ukrinform reported earlier, on August 11, the enemy continued shelling Europe's largest Zaporizhia NPP. Five shells hit the area near the welding zone and the radioactive material storage. Another five hits affected the area near a fire unit, located close to the ZNPP.

MENAFN11082022000193011044ID1104686297