Grossi meets with Zelensky, holds talks with Ukrainian energy minister

MOSCOW. June 14 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi met in Kiev, Ukrainian media said, citing Zelensky's press service.

Zelensky positively assessed the presence of IAEA inspectors at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), which is not under Kiev's control, and welcomed Grossi's plans to visit the facility to evaluate the situation at the site.

Zelensky also supported Grossi's initiative to send a group of IAEA experts to Ukraine to assess the aftermath of the incident at the Kakhovka Hydropower Plant and to draw up proposals on specific measures of assistance to deal with these consequences. This mission will be provided with whatever help it may need, the Ukrainian president said.

During the visit to Kiev, Grossi also met with Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko to discuss the situation in the country's energy sector, Ukrainian media said, citing the Energy Ministry's press service.

Galushchenko acknowledged that the situation in the Ukrainian energy sector is difficult, including because of the Kakhovka HPP incident, the press service said on social media. The considerable decrease in water levels at the Kakhovka reservoir has affected hydropower generation as a whole, because hydropower plants operate at reduced capacity.

The ruined Kakhovka dam cannot be rebuilt, the minister said, at the same time expressing hope that an IAEA mission will give a real assessment of the aftermath of the incident and will help Ukraine work out measures to overcome its consequences.

Grossi, in turn, promised that it will be done, the press service said.