Zelenskiy told a news conference after the talks in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv that Russia should immediately withdraw its forces and stop shelling from the nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.
“We agreed with the secretary general the conditions of a possible mission by the IAEA to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, in a legal way, via territory free from occupiers,” Zelenskiy told reporters.
“Russia should immediately and unconditionally withdraw its forces from territory of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, as well as stopping any provocations and shelling,” he said.
The UN said last week that the organisation can arrange an International Atomic Energy Agency visit to the facility, the largest nuclear station in Europe, but Russia has stated that officials cannot go through Kyiv to reach it.
IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi renewed his urgent appeal for maximum military restraint in the area of Zaporizhzhia following new signs of rising tension over Europe’s largest such facility.
Just over a week after he briefed the UN Security Council on the worsening nuclear safety and security situation at Zaporizhzhia, Grossi warned that any further escalation related to the six-reactor station could lead to a severe nuclear accident with potentially grave consequences for human health and the environment in Ukraine and elsewhere.
He reiterated the need to send an IAEA mission to carry out essential safety, security and safeguards activities at the site in southern Ukraine. He said the IAEA was in active consultations with all parties regarding its efforts to send such a mission as soon as possible.
Reports Warn Of New Security Risks
Grossi made his latest statement in response to media reports and other information received by the IAEA in recent days indicating possible new nuclear safety and security risks related to Zaporizhzhia, less than two weeks after shelling caused some damage at the plant, including impacting response activities in case of an emergency, that sparked widespread alarm about the situation there.
“In this highly volatile and fragile situation, it is of vital importance that no new action is taken that could further endanger the safety and security of one of the world’s largest nuclear power plants,” Grossi said.
“There is an urgent need to lower the tension and take the necessary steps to help ensure nuclear safety and security and prevent any radiological consequences for the population and the environment. The IAEA can play an indispensable role in this regard,” he said.
Grossi also welcomed recent statements indicating that both Ukraine and Russia supported the IAEA’s aim to send a mission to Zaporizhzhia.
The IAEA has not been able to visit Zaporizhzhia since before the conflict began almost half a year ago.
Russian troops captured the six-unit station – the biggest commercial nuclear facility in Europe, responsible for up to 20% of Ukraine’s energy needs – early in the war, but it is still run by Ukrainian technicians.
Two of its reactors are operating and Ukraine has said Russia is trying to reconnect the power plant to occupied Crimea and shut off electricity supply to towns held by Kyiv.
