Ukraine: Putin and Macron agree on an inspection of the Zaporizhia power plant by the IAEA
The Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, located near the city of Enerhodar, on August 4, 2022. © Alexander Ermochenko/REUTERS
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Russian Presidents Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron called in a telephone interview on Friday to organize "
as soon as possible
" an inspection of the Ukrainian nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, target of bombing.
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The two leaders "
raised the importance of sending a mission from the International Atomic Energy Agency to the nuclear power plant as soon as possible, which will be able to assess the situation on the spot
", indicated the Kremlin, specifying that the interview had taken place on the initiative of Emmanuel Macron.
“
The Russian side has confirmed that it is ready to provide all the necessary assistance to the inspectors of the
atomic” Agency, according to the same source.
The French presidency, for its part, declared that Emmanuel Macron had "
supported the dispatch on the spot as soon as possible of a mission of experts from the IAEA, under conditions approved by Ukraine and the United Nations
".
The two presidents must speak to each other again "
in the coming days on this subject, after exchanges between the technical teams and before the deployment of the mission
", according to the Élysée.
The Élysée specifies that Vladimir Poutine accepted that the mission of the IAEA "
passes by Ukraine
".
Fear of a major disaster
During this interview, Vladimir Putin also "
stressed that the systematic bombardment
[...]
of the territory of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant creates a danger of large-scale disaster which could lead to the radioactive contamination of vast territories
", d 'after the Kremlin.
For his part, Emmanuel Macron said "
once again his concern about the risks posed by the situation at the Zaporijjia power plant for nuclear safety and security
", indicated the Elysee.
►Also read: In Lviv, Guterres, Erdogan and Zelensky are concerned about tensions around the Zaporizhia power plant
Located in southern Ukraine and controlled by Russian forces, the Zaporizhia power plant, the largest in Europe, has been bombed several times in recent weeks, with Moscow and kyiv accusing each other of these strikes.
This situation raised the specter of a major catastrophe similar to
that of Chernobyl
in 1986.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres asked Moscow on Friday
not to cut the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant from the Ukrainian network
, which the Kiev authorities fear.
Return of the dialogue between Macron and Putin
Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron had not called each other since May 28.
Previously, the French president had telephone conversations with Vladimir Putin in early May, early March and five times in February, in the midst of rising tensions until the Kremlin offensive in Ukraine on February 24.
He also went in person to Moscow on February 7 to meet Vladimir Putin.
These multiple contacts have earned Emmanuel Macron criticism, some accusing him of having maintained regular exchanges with the head of the Kremlin without managing to prevent the launch of an offensive against Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin and Macron also discussed an agreement signed in Istanbul last month to unblock Ukrainian grain exports.
In exchange, Moscow is demanding the lifting of restrictions on its exports of agricultural products and fertilizers, affected by Western sanctions targeting Russia since the launch of its offensive against Ukraine.
President Putin "
highlighted the obstacles that remain in front of Russian exports, which does not contribute to a solution to the problems relating to world food security
", according to the Kremlin.
►Also read: Conflict in Ukraine: operations continue in Crimea
(
With
AFP)
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Ukraine
Russia
France
Nuclear
Emmanuel Macron
Vladimir Poutine