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- Grossi last met Putin in Saint Petersburg in October 2022 to discuss safety issues involving the Zaporizhzhia facility
- The IAEA chief said he hoped to discuss 鈥渢echnical points鈥� with Putin
VIENNA: UN atomic watchdog chief Rafael Grossi will head to Russia Tuesday for a fresh round of talks with President Vladimir Putin to discuss 鈥渢he future operational status鈥� of Ukraine鈥檚 Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.
Europe鈥檚 largest nuclear plant has been at the center of fighting since it was captured by Russian forces in March 2022, with both Moscow and Kyiv frequently accusing each other of compromising its safety.
Grossi last met Putin in Saint Petersburg in October 2022 to discuss safety issues involving the Zaporizhzhia facility.
鈥淚 think it is very important that we keep this high-level dialogue with both belligerents,鈥� Grossi 鈥� who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 鈥� told reporters Monday.
The IAEA chief said he hoped to discuss 鈥渢echnical points鈥� with Putin and get 鈥渁n impression of what the plans鈥� for the plant are.
鈥淭here are issues related to the future operational status of the plant,鈥� Grossi said when asked about the topics he intends to raise.
Russian Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also confirmed the talks.
Grossi has visited Ukraine several times to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and other senior officials.
The IAEA chief said he also hopes to address the nuclear plant鈥檚 鈥渆xtremely fragile and thin鈥� external power supply lines, after the facility suffered a complete loss of off-site power multiple times during bouts of fighting in the past two years.
Fears over the plant鈥檚 safety have persisted throughout Russia鈥檚 invasion, with the IAEA warning that powerful explosions and mine blasts near the plant indicated 鈥減ossible combat action鈥� that were of 鈥渄eep concern.鈥�
Grossi has called for 鈥渕aximum military restraint鈥� around the plant 鈥渢o reduce the danger of a nuclear accident.鈥�
The UN nuclear watchdog has also voiced concerned about a possible shortage of staff at the Zaporizhzhia plant.
Since February, workers from Ukraine鈥檚 atomic energy operator Energoatom who refused to sign contracts with the Russian operating entity have been barred from working at the plant.
IAEA officials have been on the ground monitoring the plant since September 2022.
The plant鈥檚 six reactor units, which produced around a fifth of Ukraine鈥檚 electricity before Russia鈥檚 full-scale invasion, have been shut down.