The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, met Wednesday with a Russian delegation to discuss the possible creation of a «protection zone» around the Zaporiyia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe, which is under Russian control as part of the invasion of Ukraine.
The IAEA said in a message on its account on the social network Twitter that «Grossi has met in Istanbul with a Russian delegation headed by the head of Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev» and specified that the objective is «to hold consultations on operational aspects related to the safety of the Zaporiyia nuclear power plant».
He also stressed that among the main issues to be discussed is the «urgent establishment of a nuclear protection and security zone» around the plant, located in the area of the Zaporiyia region annexed by Russia in September.
Grossi acknowledged in late October his frustration at the difficulty of establishing a safe zone around the nuclear power plant. Both countries hold each other responsible for attacks that on more than one occasion have disconnected the plant from the power grid and seriously threatened the operation of its reactors.
