IAEA chief wants safety zone around Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant by year-end

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) hopes to reach an agreement with Russia and Ukraine to create a safe zone around Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant by the end of the year, the head of the UN nuclear watchdog said on Friday.

Speaking to La Repubblica daily, Rafael Mariano Grossi said: “My commitment is to reach a solution as soon as possible. I hope by the end of the year.”

He, furthermore, underscored that the goal is to avoid a nuclear accident.

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

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, one of the world's largest, generated 20% of Ukraine's electricity before the Russia-Ukraine war started on Feb. 24.