The director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, vowed this Wednesday to try to advance an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to “prevent a catastrophe” at the Zaporijia nuclear power plant.
“I will prepare and propose realistic measures to be approved by all parties,” said Grossi, quoted by Russian news agencies as visiting the Zaporijia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe.
For the director of the United Nations nuclear agency, this commitment means that the entire plant will be protected, not just a safety zone around it, on which negotiations have so far and unsuccessfully focused.
“All possible measures must be taken to protect the center against any attack,” Grossi underlined.
“We are open to dialogue; we are open to answering all questions; we are open to finding solutions and mechanisms so that those solutions are focused on what matters. The priority is to ensure the nuclear safety”added the director of the IAEA.
Rafael Grossi also deplored the “increased military activity” near the Zaporijia nuclear power plant.
“I think the situation in general is not improving. It is clear that military activity in this region is increasing,” said Grossi.
However, Grossi denied that Western depleted uranium munitions posed a “radioactive hazard” to Ukraine, as Russian President Vladimir Putin had said.
“This weapon does not pose a radioactive hazard,” said Grossi, who nevertheless explained that he cannot support or criticize the United Kingdom’s supply of this type of weapons to Ukraine.
Last week, Putin claimed that depleted uranium munitions posed a danger to the environment and to Ukrainians themselves, and warned Moscow would be forced to respond if Ukraine used weapons with a “nuclear component”.
Putin used this case as an excuse to announce on Saturday the agreement with Belarus for the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of the neighboring country.
The British Ministry of Defense had already accused Moscow of misinformation for saying that depleted uranium munitions had a “nuclear component”.
Source: DN
