Status: 10/12/2022 03:14 am
At a meeting with IAEA chief Grossi, Russian President Putin said he was “open to a dialogue” on the security of the contested Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporizhia. Grossi again urged the establishment of a “protection zone”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown himself willing to engage in dialogue in the conflict over Ukraine’s Zaporizhia nuclear power plant. He was “open to dialogue” with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, said the Kremlin boss at a meeting with IAEA boss Rafael Grossi in St. Petersburg, which was broadcast on Russian state television.
The nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine has been controlled by Russian troops since March. “We will be happy to discuss any issues of common interest or those of concern, such as the situation surrounding the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant,” Putin said.
Grossi reiterates demand for “protection zone”
Before the meeting, Grossi reiterated his demand for a “protection zone” around the nuclear power plant. Everything must be done “to avoid a nuclear accident,” said an IAEA statement. Grossi emphasized that the situation was becoming “more and more dangerous” given the frequent attacks. “We can’t afford to lose any more time,” said Grossi. There is a lot “at stake”.
For several months Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of being responsible for attacks around and on the nuclear power plant. The largest nuclear power plant in Europe is not far from the front. A few days ago, Putin put the nuclear power plant under Russian administration by decree. The IAEA condemned this step and described the plant as Ukrainian.
Kyiv: Russia kidnapped high-ranking nuclear power plant employee
Meanwhile, Kyiv accused Moscow of kidnapping another senior nuclear power plant worker. In early October, the director of the nuclear power plant, Ihor Murashov, was arrested by Russia and held for more than two days before being released.
On Monday, “Russian terrorists” kidnapped Valeri Martynyuk, Deputy Director General for Human Resources. The state-owned Ukrainian nuclear power plant operator Energoatom said he was being held “at an unknown location” and possibly mistreated.
According to Energoatom, Russia is trying to get information about the personnel files of the power plant’s employees in order to force the Ukrainian employees to work for the Russian operator Rosatom as soon as possible.
Grossi also wants to meet Selenskyj this week
The Ukrainian state-owned company called on IAEA boss Grossi to advocate for Martynyuk’s release at the meeting with Putin. According to the IAEA, after his talks with Putin “in the course of this week” in Kyiv, Grossi will also meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for further talks about the nuclear power plant.
Grossi and Selenskyj had already met last week to discuss setting up a protection zone around the nuclear power plant.