Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi on Tuesday, according to a press official in Zelensky’s office.
The meeting comes as Ukraine and Russia continue to accuse each other of shelling the area around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant ahead of an expected visit by a delegation from the IAEA, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog. country, at the weekend.
Zelensky told Grossi that the IAEA’s mission in Ukraine was “urgent” and that Ukraine wanted its team to do more than conduct factory inspections.
Zelensky said that he hopes the delegation will “find an opportunity, thanks to our special services, thanks to the security corridors, to get to the station and do what’s best to avoid all the threats.” it on a global scale.”
“Perhaps, today this is one of the [high] priority issues related to the security of Ukraine and the world,” Zelensky said.
He blamed the Russian military for “creating great risks, related to explosions, related to the failure of nuclear reactors, related to the risk of disconnecting home units.” Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant from our network and risks during the heating season for our citizens.”
Zelensky urged the IAEA to do more than inspect the plant, saying that strategic decisions are needed “regarding the urgent demilitarization of the plant, the withdrawal of all, any Union troops Russia with explosives and weapons of any kind.”
Zelensky stressed that the area should become a demilitarized zone and there should be a transition of the factory to full control of the Ukrainian state.
