Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron referred to as for impartial inspections on the Moscow-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, the Kremlin mentioned Friday.
Putin “confused that the systematic shelling by the Ukrainian navy of the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant creates the hazard of a large-scale disaster that would result in radiation contamination of huge territories”.
In accordance with the Kremlin, each leaders referred to as for consultants of the Worldwide Atomic Power Company (IAEA) to examine the plant “as quickly as attainable” and “assess the true scenario on the bottom”.
“The Russian aspect confirmed its readiness to supply the Company inspectors with the mandatory help,” the assertion mentioned.
In a separate assertion, the French presidency mentioned that Macron “supported the dispatch of a mission of consultants from the IAEA to the positioning underneath circumstances agreed by Ukraine and the United Nations”.
It later specified that Putin had dropped his demand that the IAEA workforce journey to the positioning by way of Russia, saying it might arrive by way of Ukraine “in respect of Ukrainian sovereignty”.
Putin and Macron will converse once more “within the coming days on this topic after talks between the technical groups and earlier than the deployment of the mission,” the Elysee mentioned.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant was seized by Russian troops in March and up to date combating round it has raised the spectre of a nuclear incident corresponding to Chernobyl.
Each Kyiv and Moscow have this week accused one another of getting ready “provocations” on the facility.
The plant — the largest in Europe — was focused by a number of strikes in current days, growing fears of a nuclear catastrophe. Each Kyiv and Moscow have traded blame over the assaults.
Ukraine officers have additionally opposed a go to whereas the positioning is held by Russia, saying it could solely “legitimise the occupation of the facility plant”.
– Export ‘obstacles’ –
Throughout the identical name — their first in practically three months — Putin advised Macron that Russia was dealing with obstacles within the export of its meals merchandise and fertiliser.
“There are nonetheless obstacles to the talked about Russian exports that don’t contribute to the answer of issues associated to making sure world meals safety,” the Kremlin mentioned.
However Macron’s workplace later contested the declare, calling it an try “to politically manipulate this difficulty”.
“From our viewpoint, there isn’t a authorized or operational impediment to Russian grain exports,” it mentioned.
Final month in Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine signed landmark offers with Turkey and the United Nations that opened safe corridors for grain exports to go away Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.
An identical settlement signed on the similar time allowed Russia to export its agricultural merchandise and fertiliser regardless of Western sanctions over Moscow’s navy intervention in Ukraine.
