Putin: Ukrainian bombardment threatens large-scale disaster…Russia is ready for inspection assistance
Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron had a phone call on the 19th (local time) and agreed on the need for an expedited inspection of the Ukrainian Zaporiza nuclear power plant, Archyde.com and TASS news agency reported.
President Emmanuel Macron called Putin on the same day to discuss the situation in Ukraine and expressed his concerns, in particular, regarding the safety risks posed by the situation at the Zaporiza nuclear power plant, the Elysee Palace said.
President Putin also said a nuclear disaster might cause radioactive contamination in vast areas, the Kremlin said.
Accordingly, the presidents of the two countries agreed on the importance of dispatching an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection team to the site as soon as possible to accurately assess the current situation.
In addition, before dispatching the IAEA inspection team, the technical team decided to exchange opinions first and then continue the discussion.
“The risk of a major disaster is growing because of the systematic shelling of Ukraine,” Putin said.
“Russia is ready to provide the assistance the IAEA inspectors need,” he said.
The Zaporiza nuclear power plant, which has six reactors, the largest in Europe, has been threatened by bombardment immediately following Russia took over it in early March.
As the shelling of nuclear power plants and surrounding areas has continued every day since this month, demands for the return and demilitarization of nuclear power plants from Russia are also increasing.
Russia, however, has rejected the request, saying Ukraine is bombarding nuclear power plants and obstructing nuclear inspections.
Putin has repeatedly argued that barriers to the export of Russian food and fertilizers remain even following Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations and Turkiye (Turkey) have agreed to export grain through the Black Sea route.
/yunhap news
