Russia-Ukraine War

Progress made on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant safe zone, says senior Russian diplomat

Controls on Ukrainian shelling of nuclear plant must be included in safe zone deal, says Russian deputy foreign minister

Elena Teslova  | 06.12.2022 - Update : 06.12.2022
Progress made on Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant safe zone, says senior Russian diplomat

MOSCOW

Several rounds of talks with the UN's nuclear energy watchdog have "moved forward" to create a safe zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine, a senior Russian diplomat said on Tuesday.

"I think there's a positive dynamic on this issue. We work with a certain perspective," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said at a press briefing in Moscow, adding that nuclear power company Rosatom, along with other Russian bodies, remain in contact with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Ryabkov said that an agreement with the IAEA should include provisions to limit the Ukrainian military's ability to shell the station, which he said "has been happening for months."

On a potential visit to Russia by IAEA head Rafael Grossi, he said this could happen if Moscow is convinced that a "reasonable scheme" for a safe zone can be implemented with measures to monitor and verify that the Ukrainian army "is not able to conduct such attacks."

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, located in southeastern Ukraine, has been under Russian control since March.

One of the world's largest nuclear plants, it generated 20% of Ukraine's electricity before the Russia-Ukraine war started on Feb. 24.

Turning to the international Chemical Weapons Convention, currently taking place in Geneva, Ryabkov said the Russian delegation there was working hard to show that the convention needed to be strengthened.

"We need to create an appropriate verification mechanism, we need to strengthen confidence-building measures within the framework of the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons. And most importantly, to put an end to the illegal and unlawful activities that the US, relying on allies in many regions of the world, is conducting in this area," he said.

On prospects to restore the Iran nuclear deal, Ryabkov said the situation was "static," with no progress but no backsliding, either.

Restoring the deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), will depend on whether the sides can reach "relevant political solutions."

"The main solution here is the need for the US to realize and recognize that they need to return to full-scale implementation of the (UN Security Council) resolution 2231," he said, adding that discussions should concentrate on the deal without the addition of unrelated topics.

EU price cap on Russian oil

Ryabkov also criticized a recent EU decision to impose a $60 price cap on Russian oil, saying that it undermined the global economy.

"To press harder, to put pressure on Russia, to find ways to complicate our lives, the basics of the functioning of the world economy are being violated," he said.

Ryabkov noted that Russian oil would "find its buyer" and that Russia's energy trade interests would be observed.

"We will find out how the market will react further, but in any case, our interests in this area will be secured one way or another.

"In the end, people obsessed with anti-Russian ideas will be convinced that their plans have not achieved results," he said, warning that such moves would cause "fluidity, instability, price jumps, unpredictability."

The diplomat also condemned the idea of creating an international tribunal to investigate Russia's actions in Ukraine.

"Questions about the creation of quasi-legal structures to serve certain whims and desires have long been heard, the illegitimacy of all this is absolutely obvious. It won't have any consequences for us.

"If people want to throw money away for something like that, then it's their right. We can't stop them," he added.

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