Fears of a “catastrophe” in Zaporizhia, Putin agrees to an IAEA mission
Vladimir Putin accepted on Friday that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) send a mission to the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, the largest in Europe, saying he fears that the bombardments will end up causing a “large-scale disaster”, strikes of which Moscow and kyiv accuse each other.
“The systematic bombardment (…) of the territory of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant creates the danger of a large-scale disaster which could lead to the radioactive contamination of vast territories”warned the Russian president during a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
MM. Putin and Macron have in this context “raised the importance of sending a mission from the International Atomic Energy Agency to the nuclear power plant as soon as possible, which will be able to assess the situation on site”informed the Kremlin, stressing that “the Russian side has confirmed that it is ready to provide all necessary assistance to the inspectors” of the IAEA.
The Russian Head of State also accepted that the latter pass “by Ukraine” and not by Russia, which he demanded before, specified the French presidency.
In a statement, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, “welcomed recent statements that Ukraine and Russia support the IAEA’s goal of sending a mission” in Zaporizhia. This organization “is in active consultation with all parties” to hurry there ” as soon as possible “ a team that Mr. Grossi “will lead himself”according to this text broadcast in the evening. “In this highly volatile and fragile situation, it is of vital importance that no further action is taken which could further endanger (…) one of the largest nuclear power plants in the world”insisted the head of the IAEA.
“The restoration of total security” on this site “may begin after the mission has begun its work”Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented in the evening.
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, called on the Russians to “to withdraw” of this site and “immediately return full control to its rightful owner, Ukraine”.
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