They had already discussed this on Monday. President Emmanuel Macron, however, spoke again by telephone on Saturday with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky about the situation still “very worrying” around the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant, said the Elysée. The two presidents “returned to the situation around the plant, which remains very worrying. They expressed their support for the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency”, underlined the French presidency.
Regarding the Zaporozhye power plant, Emmanuel Macron and Volodymyr Zelensky “share the same demand for the withdrawal of Russian forces from the area to guarantee the safety and security of nuclear installations”, indicates the Elysée.
“Immediately cease the bombardments in the area”
As a reminder, on Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported a “total power outage” in the Ukrainian city of Energodar (south), where the Zaporijjia nuclear power plant is located, a situation that “compromises the safety of operations”. “It is completely unacceptable. This cannot continue,” Director General Rafael Grossi said in a statement, calling for “an immediate cessation of the bombardments in the area.”
The French head of state also “questioned President Zelensky on the developments of the conflict on the ground, and on the needs of Ukraine to which France could contribute to meeting”, added the Elysée, while the States United States has already announced a new military aid of 2.8 billion dollars for kyiv and countries in the region.