Kremlin: No Heavy Weapons at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

Members of the Ukrainian National guard demining team Battalion Dnipro 1 navigate in mine fields, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in the northern part of the Donetsk region of Ukraine, December 12, 2022. (Reuters)
Members of the Ukrainian National guard demining team Battalion Dnipro 1 navigate in mine fields, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in the northern part of the Donetsk region of Ukraine, December 12, 2022. (Reuters)
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Kremlin: No Heavy Weapons at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant

Members of the Ukrainian National guard demining team Battalion Dnipro 1 navigate in mine fields, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in the northern part of the Donetsk region of Ukraine, December 12, 2022. (Reuters)
Members of the Ukrainian National guard demining team Battalion Dnipro 1 navigate in mine fields, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in the northern part of the Donetsk region of Ukraine, December 12, 2022. (Reuters)

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Russia had not placed heavy weapons at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.

Kyiv has repeatedly accused Russian forces of using the nuclear facility, which Russia seized in the first days of the conflict, as a de facto weapons depot. Both sides have accused each other of shelling the plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station.

In a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said Russia remains in contact with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is trying to broker the creation of a demilitarized zone around the power station.

The Kremlin also said Ukraine must take into account the "realities" that have developed in the Ukraine conflict for there to be peace between the two sides.

Peskov dismissed a reported three-step proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to bring about peace, adding that progress was not possible "without taking realities into account".

He was responding to a request by Zelenskiy to leaders from Group of Seven powers on Monday for more military equipment, support for financial and energy stability, and backing for a peace solution that would start with Russia withdrawing troops from Ukraine.

Russia has repeatedly said it is willing to hold peace talks but that it does not see Ukraine and the West, which is supplying Kyiv with weapons, as ready to do so. Ukraine says Russia must halt its attacks and withdraw from all territory it has occupied.



Iran Air Cancels Flights to Beirut until Further Notice

An IranAir Airbus A320 passengers aircraft taxis after landing at Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport, Serbia, March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Marko Djurica/File Photo
An IranAir Airbus A320 passengers aircraft taxis after landing at Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport, Serbia, March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Marko Djurica/File Photo
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Iran Air Cancels Flights to Beirut until Further Notice

An IranAir Airbus A320 passengers aircraft taxis after landing at Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport, Serbia, March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Marko Djurica/File Photo
An IranAir Airbus A320 passengers aircraft taxis after landing at Belgrade's Nikola Tesla Airport, Serbia, March 13, 2018. REUTERS/Marko Djurica/File Photo

Iran Air has cancelled all flights to Beirut until further notice, the airline's spokesman told local media including the Tasnim news agency on Saturday.

Earlier on Saturday, reports said Israel has breached the communication network of the control tower at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport and warned an Iranian plane against landing.

Also, a source at the ministry told Reuters that Lebanon's transport ministry asked an Iranian aircraft not to enter its airspace after Israel warned air traffic control at Beirut airport that it would use "force" if the plane landed.