Correspondent in Moscow
Against all odds, Vladimir Putin on Friday gave the green light to an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection at the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant site on the Dnieper River. Since the beginning of March, the clashes around the installations occupied by Russian soldiers have caused fears of a disaster. Moscow and Kiev deny responsibility for the shootings, which threaten the highly sensitive site. The announcement was made on Friday afternoon after the telephone conversation between the President of the Russian Federation and Emmanuel Macron.
According to the Kremlin, the heads of the two states “raised the importance of the International Atomic Energy Agency sending a mission to the nuclear plant as soon as possible, which would be able to assess the situation on the spot.” “The Russian side has confirmed that it is ready to provide all the necessary assistance to the inspectors.” from the IAEA, said the presidency of the Russian Federation.
In turn, Elyseeyan newspaper noted that Emmanuel Macron, on the initiative of this telephone conversation, had “Supported the sending of the IAEA expert mission to the site as soon as possible, under the conditions approved by Ukraine and the United Nations.”.
A signal of diplomatic significance
The two leaders need to talk to each other again “After discussions between technical groups on this topic over the next few days and before the deployment of the mission,” said the Elysee Palace. This resumption of direct contacts, if confirmed, will be a significant diplomatic signal. It’s been almost three months since May 28 that the two presidents haven’t called each other, after exchanging a series of phone calls that generated a lot of ink. to flow
Through these periodic conversations, the French president is especially accused of wanting to save the dialogue with his Russian counterpart in vain. In early August, the Kremlin noted that France is a country “unfriendly” with whom there were no discussions” wanted”. At the Elysee on Friday, it was argued that France would bring its technical expertise and political support to the planned mission, a way to argue that Paris is back in the game…
The two presidents jointly expressed their serious concerns about the Zaporozhye power plant, Vladimir Putin “Emphasizing that the coordinated bombing of the power plant area (…) creates the risk of a large-scale disaster” and Emmanuel Macron, according to the Élysée, expressing:“his concern about the risks to nuclear safety and security posed by the situation at the plant.”. From the same source, the Russian president would accept the passage of international inspectors through Ukraine.
Obstacles ahead
The advance coincides with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ visit to Ukraine this week. Despite the “good news” of the day, Moscow’s rejection of the UN proposal on the “demilitarization” of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant shows the extent of the upcoming obstacles. Russian forces, which captured the facilities a few days after the start of a “special military operation” on February 24, are clearly not ready to lose control of this major strategic location. Ukrainian authorities, for their part, have feared in recent days that the inspections would legitimize the Russian presence at the plant, which is still operated by 3,000 Ukrainian workers.
In another highlight, Antonio Guterres on Friday asked Moscow not to cut the Zaporozhye power plant from the Ukrainian power grid, a scenario that Kiev authorities fear. Such separation will be unacceptable in terms of Ukraine’s sovereignty, it was said in the circle of Emmanuel Macron. Suffice it to say that Vladimir Putin, who complained to his interlocutor about restrictions affecting the export of agricultural products and fertilizers under sanctions, holds the means of pressure in his hands.
Source: Le Figaro
