Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky left the Ukrainian presidential press office to shake hands with International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi during their meeting on October 6, 2022 in Kyiv, Ukraine. The presidential press service reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on Thursday to discuss the situation at the NPP nuclear power plant in Zaporizhzhia.
During the talks, Zelensky and Grossi talked about the IAEA mission to the Zaporizhzhia NPP and Russia's decision to designate the plant as Russian federal property. Zelensky said he considered the decision an illegal takeover, while Grossi said transferring the plant to Russian ownership is a violation of international law.
Zelensky wanted to ensure the nuclear safety of the facility, and he called for the demilitarization of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, one of Europe's largest nuclear power plants.
READ MORE: IAEA board calls for Russia to leave the nuclear plant of Zaporizhzhia.
The Ukrainian leader stressed the need for the resumption of the plant's operation for the energy security of Ukraine and Europe.
On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree designating the plant, which has been controlled by Russian forces since early March, as Russian federal property.