The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: March 18, 2025
Today: March 18, 2025

The UN atomic watchdog's director says he's heading to Moscow for talks on nuclear safety in Ukraine

Iran Nuclear
March 04, 2024

VIENNA (AP) — The U.N. atomic watchdog agency's director said that he's due to depart for a trip to Moscow on Tuesday for high-level talks with Russian officials to discuss the issue of nuclear safety in Ukraine.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Mariano Grossi made the announcement on Monday, the first day of a regular meeting of the agency's 35-nation board of governors in Vienna. There was no immediate confirmation of the trip from the Kremlin.

“The situation continues to be very fragile,” Grossi told reporters, referring to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant located in southeastern Ukraine.

The safety of the nuclear plant, which is Europe's largest, is “of tremendous importance in terms of international peace and security,” he said.

Grossi said that it was “the intention” that he will meet personally with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his upcoming trip, but added that he would expect Moscow as the host of the talks to officially confirm it.

Grossi last met with Putin in October 2022.

Grossi visited Ukraine in February, and crossed the front line to visit the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in person as part of the IAEA’s efforts to prevent a nuclear disaster amid an ongoing war. He also held a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

He told reporters in Vienna that he considered it important to maintain a dialogue with both sides.

Grossi said that he expected to discuss “technical issues” related to “the future operational status of the plant” in Moscow. He also said that if the six-unit Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is currently in cold shutdown, is to be restarted, he would need to discuss “what kind of safety evaluation” will be made. He also said that he needs to speak about the issue of the external power supply lines, since what the IAEA currently sees is “fragile and thin.”

The IAEA has repeatedly expressed alarm about the Zaporizhzhia facility amid fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe. The plant has repeatedly been caught in the crossfire since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, and seized the facility shortly after.

The plant’s six reactors have been shut down for months, but it still needs power and qualified staff to operate crucial cooling systems and other safety features.

The plant suffered eight losses of off-site power since the start of the war, forcing it to temporarily rely on emergency diesel generators, while continuing to face challenges related to staffing.

___

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Related Articles

Russia says it's ready to discuss peace initiative on Ukraine with US as early as today Irish leader urges surge of aid to Gaza ahead of Trump meeting US to resume security support to Ukraine as Kyiv says it is ready to accept ceasefire proposal Ukraine will propose a limited ceasefire during talks with the US in Saudi Arabia, officials say
Share This

Popular

Business|Economy|Europe|Political

Europe's increased defence spending to prop up growth, ECB's Rehn says

Europe's increased defence spending to prop up growth, ECB's Rehn says
Business|Economy|Europe|Finance|Political

Russian finance ministry plans to revive mass privatisation drive

Russian finance ministry plans to revive mass privatisation drive
Europe|Political|US|World

Kremlin says Putin and Trump to speak between 1300 and 1500 GMT about Ukraine and bilateral ties

Kremlin says Putin and Trump to speak between 1300 and 1500 GMT about Ukraine and bilateral ties
Crime|Entertainment|Europe|Health|Political|World

North Macedonia appeals for calm as nightclub fire deaths trigger protests

North Macedonia appeals for calm as nightclub fire deaths trigger protests

Technology

Political|Science|Technology|US

NASA astronauts head home on SpaceX capsule after drawn-out space station stay

NASA astronauts head home on SpaceX capsule after drawn-out space station stay
Asia|Business|Political|Technology|World

US official blames South Korea's watchlist status on mishandling of lab data

US official blames South Korea's watchlist status on mishandling of lab data
Political|Science|Technology|US

Explaining Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' unexpected stay aboard the ISS

Explaining Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams' unexpected stay aboard the ISS
Political|Science|Technology|US

NASA's stuck astronauts are finally on their way back to Earth after 9 months in space

NASA's stuck astronauts are finally on their way back to Earth after 9 months in space

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In