On the night of August 30, President Volodymyr Zelensky had an off-the-record conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron.
During the conversation, the leaders of the two countries discussed the mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), its chronology, logistics and especially security issues.
This information was confirmed to RBC-Ukraine by the press secretary of the Ukrainian president, Sergei Nikiforov.
In addition, Zelensky may hold a meeting with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Tuesday afternoon, depending on when the mission leaves for the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.
Specialists of the International Atomic Energy Agency have arrived in the capital of Ukraine and will head to the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant in the coming days.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called this mission – the most difficult in the history of the agency – given the active hostilities and the means that Russia uses to legitimize its presence at the ZNPP.
Among the 13 experts selected by the IAEA Secretary General, there are neither Americans nor Britons. Russia forced them to be excluded from the list.
There are experts from Poland and Lithuania, friendly in Ukraine. At the same time, there are citizens of Serbia and China who are more favorable to the Kremlin. Others, which became known to The New York Times, are from France, Italy, Jordan, Mexico, Albania, North Macedonia.
The United States is in favor of a temporary shutdown of all reactors at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant.
We continue to believe that a controlled shutdown of the ZNPP reactors will be the safest and least risky option in the short term,” said John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council.
He also added that the United States “fully supports the expert mission of the head of the IAEA Grossi at nuclear power plants and is pleased that the agency’s team is sent there to make sure the safety, security of the systems at the facility, and also assess the working conditions of the personnel.”
Source: Racurs
