Published on: 10.12.2022 – 01:10
Russian President Vladimir Putin received this Tuesday, October 11th, the director of the UN nuclear “gendarme”, Argentine Rafael Grossi, director of the IAEA. In the background: the dangerous situation in which the gigantic Ukrainian nuclear power plant Zaporijjia is located.
In St. Petersburg, Russia, Vladimir Putin spoke Tuesday with Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
It was about the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporijjia, the largest in Europe, which was seized by Russian troops during the conflict and which has since found itself in the logic of dangerous bombing. For months, Russians and Ukrainians have accused each other of shooting in the area.
►Read again: Ukraine: The nuclear power plant Zaporijjia relies on emergency generators
During talks with the number one UN agency, the President of the Russian Federation opened “dialogue” about the facility, which has been under his country’s military control since March. And Rafael Grossi reiterated his call for “a protection zone” to be set up there.
“We must do everything in our power to prevent a nuclear accident,” the IAEA chief said in a statement, describing the situation as “increasingly dangerous, with frequent military attacks threatening nuclear security.”
Turkey is also very attentive to the situation in Zaporizhia given the geography. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called for a ceasefire “as soon as possible”. A meeting between Messrs. Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled for Thursday in Kazakhstan.
Russia open to Putin-Biden meeting
“We have always said that we never turn down a meeting. If there is a suggestion, we will consider it. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s comment on Russian public television on the idea of a possible meeting between Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden.
Russia is open to a possible meeting between the Russian President and his American counterpart at the next G20 summit. The Federation would consider this proposal or any other format if presented to it.
Asked about the possibility of Turkey hosting such talks, the head of Russian diplomacy clarified that Russia is ready to hear proposals for peace talks, but he cannot commit in advance to the outcome of such a process.
During a press conference, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said that if Russia gets serious about the talks, the first step would be to end its “brutal attack” on Ukraine.
“We do not see this as a constructive and legitimate offer to engage in the dialogue and diplomacy absolutely necessary to end this brutal war of aggression,” he said.
With agencies