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After a long period of ice-cold relations between the West and Moscow, the leaders of France and Russia spoke for the first time since May.
Discussions have focused on Zaporizhia, where only two of six reactors are operating, with the international community being concerned about the risk of a nuclear incident due to the presence of Russian and Ukrainian troops in the area.
Vladimir Putin warned his French counterpart that shelling of the Russian-held Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, which he attributed to Kyiv, could result in widespread destruction.
Moscow and Kyiv have blamed each other for bombing the area that is home to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, which was seized by Russia in March but is still operating with Ukrainian technicians.
Only two of the six reactors are operational.
“Vladimir Putin, in particular, stressed that the Ukrainian military’s systematic shelling of the area where the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant is located has created the risk of a large-scale disaster that could lead to radioactive contamination of a huge area of land,” the Kremlin said in a statement.
The phone call between the two leaders was initiated by Macron.
Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of preparing provocations at the station.
Kyiv claims that Russian forces plan to disconnect the nuclear plant from the Ukrainian power grid and connect it to the Russian grid.
The Kremlin announced that Putin and Macron stressed the importance of sending a delegation from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the nuclear plant as soon as possible.
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Putin, according to the Kremlin statement, confirmed Russia’s readiness to provide IAEA inspectors with the necessary assistance.
During the conversation between the two leaders, Putin also spoke to Macron about the ongoing obstacles to the supply of Russian food and fertilizers to world markets.
As the Élysée announced, Putin agreed for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts to be sent to the site.
The two presidents agreed to continue their talks in the coming days on this issue after the technical group talks and before the deployment of the mission, according to a statement on the phone conversation between the two presidents sent to reporters by Macron’s office.
Ukraine’s nuclear power plant management authority said today it suspects Moscow plans to disconnect the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant from Ukraine’s grid, a complex operation that Kyiv says could spell disaster.
