The opening ceremony will be held at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday, January 11
cricket10 hours ago
Kyiv and Moscow have shown “signs that they are interested” in creating a security zone around Europe’s largest nuclear plant in Ukraine threatened by shelling since Russia invaded its neighbour, the UN atomic watchdog said on Monday.
Shelling around the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia power plant in southern Ukraine has raised fears of a nuclear disaster.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has two experts at the plant since a mission there early this month, has urged fighting around the facility to stop.
“What we need here really is Ukraine and Russia to agree on a very simple principle of not attacking or not shelling the plant,” IAEA director-general Rafael Grossi told reporters.
“Basically, it’s a commitment that no military action will include or will imply aiming of course at the plant or a radius that could be affecting its normal operation. This is what we expect.”
He added both Kyiv and Moscow were “engaging” with the agency on the issue and asking “lots of questions”.
“I have seen signs that they are interested in this agreement,” Grossi said after he opened the Vienna-based agency’s regular 35-member Board of Governors meeting.
Kyiv insists Russian forces must withdraw from the plant, but Grossi said “areas that have to do with larger demilitarisation or movements of troops, none of that is part of my mandate”.
Later on Monday, the spokesman for Ukraine’s foreign ministry reiterated that “the only way to ensure the nuclear safety and security of the Zaporizhzhia power plant is its de-occupation, demilitarisation and return to Ukrainian control”.
“All IAEA efforts must be focused on achieving this goal. Anything short of this won’t make Russia stop its dangerous game,” Oleg Nikolenko wrote on Twitter.
The IAEA Board of Governors meeting this week is expected to pass a resolution urging Russia “to immediately cease” all actions against the Zaporizhzhia plant and “any other” nuclear facility in Ukraine so that “the competent authorities” regain full control, several diplomats told AFP.
Ukraine said on Sunday the sixth and final reactor at the Zaporizhzhia power station was shut down.
Grossi said the situation was “stable” for now but warned it was “unsustainable” in the long run if shelling continued.
Both Kyiv and Moscow have blamed each other for the shelling.
French President Emmanuel Macron asked Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a telephone call on Sunday to withdraw heavy and light weaponry from the plant, according to Macron’s office.
Putin said Russian specialists at the plant were taking steps to ensure its safety and said Moscow was ready to continue work with the IAEA to agree on “non-politicised” solutions to problems at the facility, according to the Kremlin.
The opening ceremony will be held at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday, January 11
cricket10 hours ago
For their special day, Aashna opted for a radiant orange-coloured lehenga designed by Manish Malhotra
entertainment10 hours ago
Jesus was on target again during a 3-1 comeback win away to Brentford on Wednesday
football10 hours ago
With a game in hand, Arne Slot's Liverpool are six points clear of second-placed Arsenal while they have more than double United's tally with 45 points
football10 hours ago
The event will feature eight exciting races, with Zabeel Mile (Group 2) as a main feature
sports10 hours ago
85 per cent of GPs who had suicidal thoughts blamed it on their working conditions which have deteriorated due to a lack of resources
europe10 hours ago
The president-elect claims to have been vindicated in saying on the campaign trail that 'criminals coming in are far worse than the criminals we have in the country'
americas10 hours ago
The network is already banned from broadcasting from Israel amid a long-running feud with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government
mena11 hours ago