Erdogan offered Putin mediation in resolving the crisis at the ZNPP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin, said that Ankara could play the role of a mediator regarding the situation at the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (ZNPP). This is with reference to the office of the Turkish leader reports Reuters.

Erdogan’s office reported that the heads of the two countries also raised the issue of Ukrainian grain exports and agreed to continue the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Turkey. Putin and Erdogan intend to discuss these topics in detail at a meeting in Samarkand during the summit on September 15-16, writes agency.

Earlier today in the press service of the Kremlin reportedthat the presidents during a telephone conversation spoke about the situation in Ukraine. Erdogan “noted the constructive role of Russia in organizing the IAEA mission to the Zaporozhye NPP.” The parties also reviewed the implementation of the “grain deal” concluded in Istanbul, the Kremlin added.

Earlier, the Turkish president for the first time since the start of a special military operation in Ukraine Meets with its President Volodymyr Zelensky. Following the meeting, Zelensky said that the politicians discussed the situation around the Zaporozhye NPP and the grain issue. A memorandum was signed between Ukraine and Turkey, which implies their cooperation in restoring the destroyed socio-economic significant infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, and the parameters of a possible IAEA mission to the ZNPP were agreed upon.

During August, Zaporizhzhya NPP and Energodar were repeatedly shelled by the armed forces of Ukraine, the pro-Russian authorities and the Russian Defense Ministry reported.

On September 1, an IAEA mission arrived at the territory of the Zaporozhye NPP. The experts inspected the territory of the station, accompanied by representatives of the Russian “Rosatom” and employees of the station. The specialists were also shown parts of the facility that had suffered from shelling by the Ukrainian military. The IAEA will present a report on the ZNPP visit to the organization’s board of governors early next week.