Russian President Vladimir Putin stated he backs the concept of sending a mission of the Worldwide Atomic Company (IAEA) to the disputed Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeastern Ukraine following a name with French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Friday (19 August).
Learn the unique French story right here.
Previously week, shelling round Europe’s largest plant positioned in southeastern Ukraine – below Russian management since 1 March – has intensified, and each Ukraine and Russia are accusing one another of the shelling.
Russian media factors to Putin being concerned concerning the “Ukrainian bombing” of the plant, which he stated poses the specter of a “large-scale disaster.”
Considerations concerning the plant’s security had been mentioned between the French and Russian presidents in a name on Friday (19 August), the Kremlin and Elysée stated.
Within the name, Macron instructed Putin is “solely liable for the present scenario and the dangers related to it”, the Elysée stated Friday.
However Putin then instructed Macron he was in favour of sending a mission from the Worldwide Atomic Power Company (IAEA), the Elysée added.
Nuclear security
Macron shares the priority for “nuclear security”, the Elysée stated.
He needs the knowledgeable mission to be despatched “as quickly as potential” and “below situations agreed by Ukraine and the United Nations,” it added.
Putin has given “his settlement to the deployment of this mission and the modalities talked about,” the presidential palace additionally stated.
Earlier than his name with Putin, Macron met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday (16 August), with whom he had mentioned “the phrases of such a mission”.
Putin is even stated to have accepted that the mission “goes to Zaporizhzhia by way of the a part of Ukraine” below Ukrainian management with out “coming from Russia”, the Elysée additionally stated.
Such situations could be acceptable to Ukraine, it added.
‘As quickly as potential’
The Elysée hopes the mission might go away “as quickly as potential”, however didn’t point out a selected date.
The presidential palace additionally reaffirmed the necessity for safety situations to be negotiated and for there to be a “halt to the combating for a minimum of the length of the mission and if potential past, in order that the plant is a secure place.”
The 2 heads of state agreed to remain in contact “within the coming days” to comply with the organisation of the mission.
“Each dedication made by President Putin have to be verified in actuality,” the presidential palace stated. This requires “shut contact to make sure that what has been stated is carried out,” it added.
The final time Macron had Putin on the telephone was on 28 Could – with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz additionally on the road.
