Accessibility links

Breaking News

Putin Holds Meeting With Atomic Watchdog Chief In Sochi Amid Renewed Shelling Near Occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Plant


Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) greets International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi prior to their talks in Sochi on March 6.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) greets International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi prior to their talks in Sochi on March 6.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi on March 6 amid tensions over Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant, which has been occupied by Russian forces. The IAEA has observers stationed at the facility. Russian state media said the meeting took place at Putin’s residence in Sochi and that Aleksei Likhachev, the head of the Russian state nuclear corporation, also participated. Grossi called for "maximum military restraint" on February 23 after a string of powerful explosions occurred near the nuclear plant that week. “The situation continues to be very fragile,” Grossi told reporters on March 4 as he announced his trip to meet Putin.

  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL

    RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG