Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed that “the International Atomic Energy Agency’s mission to the Russian-controlled Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine will pass through Ukraine, not Russia,” the Elysee Palace said in a statement.

The French presidency said after a telephone conversation between French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart, the first since May 28, that “Putin has agreed to reconsider the condition of the mission’s passage through Russia, and agreed that it should go there with respect for Ukrainian sovereignty, and then transit through Ukraine”. Under government control, which is a requirement of Kyiv and Paris, necessary, legal and fundamental for reasons of Ukraine’s sovereignty, the dispatch of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency will also require a “ceasefire”. , at least for the duration of the mission.

Macron’s adviser stressed that “it is out of the question for the international community or the International Atomic Energy Agency to give even the slightest form of legitimacy to the Russian occupation, passing through Russia, due to the actual Russian occupation of a number of Ukrainian lands.” He pointed out that “it is not easy to agree on a de facto ceasefire, but we must make sure that the International Atomic Energy Agency mission will take place in satisfactory security conditions.” “To do this, it is necessary to stop hostilities for the duration of the mission, at least, and if possible, and we hope that even after that, so that we all have a vision for the future, and, of course, let’s make sure that the Zaporozhye station is a safe place. , – he said.

Elysee continued: “We hope that the agency can quickly get to the site and France is ready to contribute its experience in this area and is ready to make a technical and political contribution to the success of this mission by providing its experience. and the task of the International Atomic Energy Agency will be to assess the situation in the area of ​​Zaporozhye and subsequently determine the measures that need to be taken to ensure its safety for the parties in control of the plant.