IAEA director general expected to arrive in Moscow on Thursday

MOSCOW. Feb 9 (Interfax) - International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi will visit Moscow on February 9-10. The Russian side hopes for an in-depth dialogue with him, including on measures to ensure the safety and security of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

"The IAEA director general will actually be in Moscow today and tomorrow. We count on an in-depth discussion with him not only on the issue of establishing a safety and security zone around the Zaporozhye NPP, which is within Russia's jurisdiction and is a facility the safety and security of which is ensured by the Russian side, but also on other aspects of work with the agency. The conversation will be very earnest," Ryabkov said at a press conference in Moscow on Thursday.

Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier that Moscow was expecting IAEA Director General Grossi's visit later this week for substantive negotiations, however, there are no plans for him to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.