The leaders of the United States, Britain, Germany and France emphasized on the 21st (local time) the need to ensure the safety of the Ukraine-controlled Zaporiza nuclear power plant.
US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to visit the site as soon as possible.
The leaders of these four countries reaffirmed their firm will to continue supporting Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression and urged them to refrain from military action in the area around the nuclear power plant.
During a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 19th, French President Macron agreed on the need for IAEA inspections, concerned about the potential dangers of the Zaporiza nuclear power plant situation.
Putin blamed Ukraine for “the risk of a major catastrophe because of the systematic shelling of Ukraine,” but said Russia was “ready to provide the assistance the IAEA inspectors needed.”
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres agreed to send an IAEA inspection team to the Zaporiza nuclear power plant on the 18th.
Since this month, large and small artillery shells of unknown origin have occurred around the Zaporiza nuclear power plant, and Ukraine and Russia are arguing for responsibility over this.
/yunhap news