“The negotiation process is not easy,” admitted Sergei Ryabkov about the difficulties in contacts with the IAEA on the creation of a protection zone around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
The Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Riabkov, admitted on Monday the difficulties in consultations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the creation of a protection zone around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant.
The Ukrainian nuclear facility is under the control of Russian forces that reinvaded Ukraine in February last year.
“The negotiation process is not easy,” Riabkov said in an interview published Monday by the official Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
Even so, Riabkov stressed that, “during contacts”, it would be a “mistake to divulge information on the possible parameters of the protection zone of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant”.
“Our goal is to do whatever it takes to prevent Ukraine attacks and prevent a man-made disaster with unforeseeable consequences,” Riabkov said.
The deputy minister indicated that Moscow has already submitted proposals on the subject, but that “kyiv has not given a clear response to the initiative of the head of the IAEA,” a United Nations agency.
“Ukraine has repeatedly bombed the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, causing damage to the site’s infrastructure and showing complete disregard for potential risks,” he charged.
On the other hand, the Russian diplomat denied that the IAEA has demanded the withdrawal of the Russian National Guard forces that are in the nuclear power plant.
According to Ryabkov, the withdrawal request has been made by Ukraine and by “Western countries” that support kyiv.
“The nuclear power plant is located on Russian territory. According to our legislation, National Guard units are in charge of the security of all Russian nuclear facilities, including the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant,” Ryabkov added.
Source: Observadora
