Russia says Ukraine rejected IAEA's proposals for ensuring safety of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Ukraine rejected all proposals for ensuring the safety of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant put forward by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) because the country does not have the capacity to make such decisions, a senior Russian diplomat said Wednesday.

“In this question, as in many others, Ukraine is deprived of legal personality. The leadership of this country fulfills the demands of Washington and London, which, for the sake of political interests, easily sacrifice both people's lives and the safety of nuclear facilities on the European continent,” Alexander Grushko said in a statement.

The diplomat said that Russia will continue to take measures to provide security for the Zaporizhzhia plant.

“We have never deployed and do not plan to deploy military contingents and military equipment intended for offensive operations on the territory of the nuclear power plant. There are only those forces at the nuclear power plant that are necessary to protect it from Ukrainian attacks, as well as to eliminate their possible consequences,” he said.

Grushko also urged the IAEA to “openly condemn” and disclose information about Ukrainian attacks on the nuclear power plant.

“We hope the IAEA’s management will demonstrate the agency’s impartiality and non-involvement in this matter,” he said.