WP: Grossi is preparing an agreement on the ZNPP in anticipation of a possible counter-offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi is drafting an agreement on the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant to ensure the plant’s security ahead of a counter-offensive previously announced by Kiev. About it informs newspaper The Washington Post (WP) with reference to American and European diplomats.

According to the publication, by the end of May, Grossi plans to present a plan consisting of five principles:

The IAEA representative in a conversation with WP stated that Grossi continues negotiations with all interested parties to ensure the safety of the Zaporizhzhya NPP. He is also in close contact with members of the UN Security Council on this issue.

Today, May 22, Grossi on Twitter commented on the situation with shutdown from the external power supply of ZNPP. According to him, this happened for the seventh time since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. The Director General of the IAEA spoke about the “extremely unstable” situation with nuclear safety at the station and called for an agreement on the protection of nuclear power plants.

Grossi began to promote the idea of ​​a demilitarized zone after visiting the ZNPP on September 1, 2022. On March 9, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declaredthat the countries approached an agreement on the initiative, but it was blocked by the Ukrainian authorities. March 23 Grossi informedthat the IAEA abandoned the idea due to “territorial issues”.

ZNPP has been under Russian control since the end of February 2022. On September 30, the Zaporozhye region, as well as the DPR, LPR and Kherson region became part of Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the ZNPP to be transferred to federal ownership. Rosenergoatom became its operator.