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French President Emmanuel Macron, one of the few Western leaders to maintain an open dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin since the invasion of Ukraine, urged the Kremlin in a phone call on Sunday to withdraw forces from the besieged Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Russia and Ukraine have blamed each other for the bombing of the plant, which the United Nations nuclear watchdog has warned could have “very, very catastrophic” consequences.
Macron sided with Kiev in his call with Putin, according to an Elysée reading.
“[Macron] he recalled that the Russian occupation was the cause of the risks that today weigh on the integrity of the Zaporizhzhia power plant “, the French president told Putin.” He demanded that the Russian forces withdraw their heavy and light weapons and that IAEA recommendations are followed to ensure site security “.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a press conference following a summit on Ukraine at the Elysee in Paris, December 9, 2019.
(Ludovic Marin / Pool via REUTERS / File Photo)
Putin, meanwhile, accused Ukraine of endangering the plant.
“The Russian side has drawn attention to the regular Ukrainian attacks on the facilities of the plant, including the storage of radioactive waste, which is fraught with catastrophic consequences,” says a Kremlin reading.
Russian troops withdraw as Ukrainian soldiers retake key areas of Kharkiv
Russian forces took over the plant in the early days of the war, but it is still operated by Ukrainian staff.
The International Atomic Energy Agency visited the plant, which is the largest in Europe, last week and called for the establishment of a safe zone to protect it.
“The physical attack, knowingly or unknowingly – the blows this facility has received and which I have been able to personally see and evaluate with my experts – is simply unacceptable,” said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.
The IAEA said Sunday that a backup power line to the plant has been restored, allowing external electricity to enter the plant for reactor cooling and other operations.
Energoatom, the Ukrainian state nuclear agency, said it had to stop operations at the plant on Sunday as a safety precaution.
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Macron, who promised to continue talking to Russia earlier this month, also condemned Putin’s invasion on Sunday.
“[Macron] he condemned the continuation of Russian military operations in Ukraine and recalled his demand that they stop as soon as possible, that negotiations begin and that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity be restored “, reads his appeal with Putin.
Reuters contributed to this report.
