Zelenskiy and IAEA Chief Plan Nuclear Safety Discussions Amid Ongoing Shelling Accusations

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to meet with IAEA head Rafael Grossi after Grossi's inspection of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which has been under Russian control since early in the war. Amid ongoing shelling accusations from both sides, Zelenskiy reiterated calls for more Western military aid.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is scheduled to meet the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Kyiv following the official's visit to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which has remained under Russian control since the war began.

IAEA Director Rafael Grossi announced late Monday on social media platform X that he was en route to the plant to continue providing assistance and to help avert a potential nuclear disaster. Europe's largest nuclear facility, now in 'cold shutdown,' was captured by Russian troops early in Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Accusations of shelling have been exchanged between Moscow and Kyiv, though both deny the allegations. During a Monday visit to Zaporizhzhia city, President Zelenskiy, alongside Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, reiterated his call for the West to supply more long-range weapons to Ukraine.

Zelenskiy noted that while it would be safer for Ukraine to regain control of the Zaporizhzhia plant, current battlefield conditions make such a takeover dangerous. Separately, Russian agencies reported an unexplained automatic disconnection of a high-voltage power supply line at the plant, though its needs are reportedly being met by an alternative line.

(With inputs from agencies.)