IAEA Chief Says Russia and Ukraine are Interested In Proposing a Protection Zone At the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

IAEA team visit to PLTN Zaporizhia. (Wikimedia Commons/IAEA Imagebank)

JAKARTA - Ukraine and Russia are interested in the UN atomic watchdog's proposal that a protection zone be created around the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), the head of the UN atomic watchdog Rafael Grossi said on Monday.

Russia and Ukraine blame each other for a shooting at the site of Europe's largest nuclear power plant that has damaged buildings near six of its reactors and risked a nuclear disaster, including by cutting power lines essential to cooling fuel in the reactors even when all of them were turned off.

Grossi has called for an immediate halt to shootings and a more formal "nuclear safety and security protection zone" around the plant.

"I have seen signs that they are interested in this agreement," he told a news conference when asked about the progress of talks with Russia and Ukraine in the zone.

"What I see are two sides that are involved with us, that are asking questions, a lot of questions."

Issues discussed included the radius of the zone and the role of IAEA staff, Grossi said. Two IAEA officials are currently stationed at the plant, establishing what the agency calls a continuing presence there.

When asked if his proposal was for a ceasefire rather than the elimination of all military equipment or personnel, Grossi said what he suggested included a ceasefire.

"That includes that. It may include other things," he said.

"Basically it is a commitment that no military action will include or will imply, of course, targeting the plant, or radius that could affect its normal operation. This is what we expect."