Putin claims he's ready to work with US and Ukraine on occupied nuclear plant
Photo: Zaporizhzhia NPP (wikimedia org)
Russian president Vladimir Putin stated that Moscow is ready to cooperate with the United States and Ukraine regarding the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant if "favorable circumstances arise," according to Russian media.
According to the Kremlin leader, the Russian side has already discussed this issue with American partners.
"We can cooperate with American partners at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. In fact, we also indirectly discussed these issues with them. The same, by the way, applies to the Ukrainian side," Putin said.
He added that if "favorable circumstances arise," Russia, the United States, and Ukraine can cooperate together at the ZNPP.
Occupation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP
Russian troops seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in March 2022. Since then, the largest NPP in Ukraine and Europe has been under the control of the occupiers.
Russia has turned the plant and the surrounding territory into a military base, deploying equipment and personnel there. This creates the risk of provocations and increases the danger of a nuclear incident.
Besides, Russia is illegally holding 13 employees of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in the temporarily occupied territories.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly reported the critical situation and the need to ensure the safety of personnel and nuclear materials.
On August 31, it became known that IAEA specialists cannot access a newly built dam on the canal of one of the Zaporizhzhia NPP cooling ponds. Russian troops are not letting the experts through.
