The U.N. nuclear watchdog will visit the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine within days if talks to gain access succeed, it said in a statement on Tuesday.
Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of firing at the Zaporizhzhia facility, which pro-Moscow forces took over soon after the Feb. 24 invasion. The United Nations has called for the area to be demilitarised.
โIโm continuing to consult very actively and intensively with all parties,โ International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi said in a statement.
โThe mission (to Zaporizhzhia) is expected to take place within the next few days if ongoing negotiations succeed.โ
Russiaโs foreign ministry said Moscow had given the go-ahead for a mission on June 3 and blamed Kyiv for trying to disrupt the promised inspection.
โWe express our deep regret that the mission has not yet taken place,โ spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.