Russia Requests ‘Explanations’ from IAEA on Zaporizhzhia Report

A motorcade transporting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert mission arrives at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict outside the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, September 1, 2022. (Reuters)
A motorcade transporting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert mission arrives at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict outside the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, September 1, 2022. (Reuters)
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Russia Requests ‘Explanations’ from IAEA on Zaporizhzhia Report

A motorcade transporting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert mission arrives at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict outside the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, September 1, 2022. (Reuters)
A motorcade transporting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expert mission arrives at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict outside the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, September 1, 2022. (Reuters)

Russia has requested "additional explanations" from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on parts of its report on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

The IAEA on Tuesday called for shelling near the power station to be halted and for a security zone around the plant to be established immediately in a report published after its long-awaited mission to Zaporizhzhia last week.

The plant has been controlled by Russian forces since March but is still operated by Ukrainian staff and connected to the Ukrainian power grid. Both Kyiv and Moscow have accused each other of firing missiles at the power station, prompting fears of a Chornobyl-style nuclear disaster.

Lavrov told the Interfax news agency that Moscow required more information about the IAEA's findings and had sent a request to provide extra information.

"There is a need for additional explanations because there are a number of issues in the report. I will not list them now, but we have requested clarifications from the IAEA Director General," Interfax cited Lavrov as saying.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the West of putting pressure on the IAEA mission to the plant.

The RIA Novosti news agency quoted Zakharova as saying Russia had provided full data on the source of shelling to the IAEA and was questioning why the organization did not name Ukraine as the source of attacks on the nuclear power plant in its report.

She also said Ukraine was coordinating its attacks on the facility with the help of the United States and other Western states.

Ukraine denies attacking the plant and has accused Moscow of storing heavy weapons at the nuclear power station, a claim rejected by Russia.



Italy against Suspending EU-Israel Accord, Foreign Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani talks to the press as he arrives for an informal meeting of The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) foreign ministers ahead of potential peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Türkiye, in Antalya, on May 15, 2025. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani talks to the press as he arrives for an informal meeting of The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) foreign ministers ahead of potential peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Türkiye, in Antalya, on May 15, 2025. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP)
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Italy against Suspending EU-Israel Accord, Foreign Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani talks to the press as he arrives for an informal meeting of The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) foreign ministers ahead of potential peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Türkiye, in Antalya, on May 15, 2025. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani talks to the press as he arrives for an informal meeting of The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) foreign ministers ahead of potential peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Türkiye, in Antalya, on May 15, 2025. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP)

Italy is against a suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement over alleged human rights violations in Gaza, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday.

"Our position is different from that of Spain," Tajani said on the sidelines of a meeting with EU colleagues in Brussels, referring to Spain's support for a suspension of the deal.

Tajani said it was important to keep relations open with Israel, saying that this had facilitated the evacuation of some civilians out of Gaza.