UN nuclear chief pushes for deal on nuclear plant safety zone

Director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi (Andriy Andriyenko/AP)

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency said on Monday that he has started consultations with Ukraine and Russia on his call for a “nuclear safety and security protection zone” around the Zaporizhzhia power plant, and the two sides appear to be interested.

Rafael Grossi, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), made his proposal last week after leading a team of inspectors to the nuclear plant, Europe’s biggest with six reactors, but gave few details at the time.