IAEA chief said he was working on a ‘compromise’ security plan for the Moscow-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and warned of increased military activity in the area.
ADVERTISEMENTThe head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, remains determined to continue diplomatic efforts to protect the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southern Ukraine, urging both Moscow and Kyiv to reach a compromise to prevent a potentially catastrophic nuclear incident.
The UN nuclear watchdog chief and his team made their assessment on a visit to Europe's largest nuclear power plant on Wednesday amid persistent fears over the safety of the facility.
It has been subject to frequent shelling since Russian troops invaded Ukraine last year.
Grossi stressed he was working to find terms that would suit both Moscow and Kyiv.
"The idea is to agree on certain principles, certain commitments, including not to attack the plant for example and some others," he said.
"We must avoid catastrophe. I am an optimist and I believe that this is possible," said Grossi, who arrived at the plant in a Russian armoured vehicle, surrounded by soldiers in full combat gear.
But he also warned of "increasing" military activity around the nuclear plant and hoped Russia and Ukraine would agree on safety principles.
However, Renat Karchaa, an advisor to Russia's nuclear giant Rosenergoatom argued that Grossi's visit was unlikely to bring any major breakthroughs.
"We are far from having any illusions that Grossi's visit will dramatically change anything. For us, this is an ordinary working event".
Kyiv and Moscow have accused one another of shelling the plant while the United Nations has called for a demilitarised zone around the site.
This was Grossi's second visit to Zaporizhzhia since the start of the war last February.
The nuclear agency has had a team of experts inside the plant since September 2022, but Grossi has said the situation "is still precarious".