UN provides technical assistance to Ukraine to secure nuclear power plants
The head of the UN agency in charge of atomic energy traveled to Ukraine to provide “technical assistance” to the government to ensure the safety of nuclear facilities, it was reported Tuesday.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will meet with Ukrainian officials and visit a Ukrainian nuclear power plant. “The goal of the Director General’s visit is to start giving rapid support to Ukraine on military installations,” the IAEA said.
The agency will also make a “shipment of vital security and protection supplies,” including monitoring material and emergency equipment.
Grossi explained that “the military conflict poses an unprecedented danger to the country’s nuclear power plants and other sites” and considered that “urgent measures must be taken to guarantee that they continue to function safely.”
Since the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine, on February 24, the IAEA has been warning about the dangers that this conflict represents in a country with a vast nuclear network that includes 15 reactors, in addition to the Chernobyl plant, where the greatest disaster in the history of atomic energy.
Several Ukrainian nuclear plants came under the power of the Russian army at the end of the conflict
Biden will talk about Ukraine with European leaders
The American President, Joe Biden will address issues related to the war in Ukraine this Tuesday in a phone call with European leadersreported the White House.
The call with government leaders from the UK, Germany, France and Italy It will be “to discuss the latest developments regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” a spokesman said.
Ukrainian Negotiator Says Zelensky-Putin Meeting Is Possible
The leader of the Ukrainian delegation, David Arakhamia, stated after the end of the negotiations with the Russian representatives in Turkey that progress was made at the meeting that would allow a meeting between the president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, and its Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
“The results of today’s meeting (in Istanbul) are sufficient for a meeting at the level of heads of state,” Arakhamia said.
Earlier, the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, maintained that his country would do everything possible to allow a meeting to take place in which Zelensky and Putin reach a peace agreement.
Ukraine calls for an international agreement to guarantee its security
Ukraine calls for an “international agreement” to guarantee its securityof which several countries are guarantors, said the chief negotiator of the Ukrainians, after several hours of negotiations this Tuesday with the Russians in Istanbul.
“We insist that it be an international agreement that is signed by all security guarantors,” said David Arakhamia, specifying that his country wants an “international guarantee mechanism where the guarantor countries act in a manner analogous to the 5th chapter of NATO”which ensures the reciprocal protection of the members of the Atlantic pact.
Russia announced that it will reduce military activity in kyiv and Chernigov
The head of the Russian delegation in the peace negotiations, Vladimir Medinski, stated after the meeting with the Ukrainian delegation in Turkey that Russia has taken “two steps towards the de-escalation of the conflict in Ukraine”.
After the meeting in Istanbul, the Russian Deputy Defense Minister, Alexander Fomín, said at a press conference that “a decision has been made to sharply reduce military activity in the direction of kyiv and Chernigov”.
Likewise, Medinski stated that Russia has received written proposals from Ukraine confirming its intention to assume a neutral and non-nuclear status.
Zelensky: “What the Russian troops are doing in Mariupol is a crime against humanity”
the ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelensky He assured this Tuesday in front of the Danish Parliament that the Russian attacks against the city of Mariupol are a “crime against humanity”.
“What the Russian troops are doing in Mariupol is a crime against humanitywhich is happening live before the eyes of the world,” he said in a videoconference speech, accusing them of deliberately bombing civilian shelters in the besieged city.
Russia attacks an administrative building in Mikolaiv
A Russian attack hit the headquarters of the Mikolaiv regional administrationa southern Ukrainian city near Odessa, and initially the emergency services were looking for eight civilians and three soldiers in the rubble, the governor of this region of southern Ukraine reported on Facebook.
“The regional administration building was hit,” Governor Vitaly Kim wrote, adding that Most of the people inside escaped unharmed.. “We are looking for eight civilians and three soldiers,” the official said.
The president explained that “half the building was destroyed” and his office was affected by the attack and he shared a photo showing the building with the center section partially collapsed.
“(The Russians) realized they couldn’t take Mikolaiv and decided to greet me, all of us,” Kim quipped.
Roman Abramovich participates as a mediator in the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine
The Kremlin confirmed that the Russian millionaire and former president of Chelsea, Roman Abramovich participates as a mediator in the talks between Russia and Ukraine which began this Tuesday in Istanbul.
“Abramovich is playing a role in establishing contacts between the Russian and Ukrainian sides,” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitri Peskov said. “He is present in Istanbul.” He also added that the businessman is not an official member of the Russian delegation.
Peskov denied the versions that circulated in the Wall Street Journal and other American media that reported that both Abramovich and two Ukrainian negotiators had been poisoned.
“This is part of the information war,” said the spokesman. “Of course this information does not correspond to reality.”
Negotiations started in Istanbul
Negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations began on Tuesday in Istanbul at the Dolmabahçe Palace began shortly after 10:30 local time (4:30 in Argentina).
“Both sides have legitimate concerns, it is possible to reach a solution that is acceptable to the international community“Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the start of the dialogue.
Erdoğan indicated that it’s up to both sides to “put an end to this tragedy” because “the prolongation of the conflict is of no interest to anyone”. “The whole world is waiting for good news,” he urged the negotiators, adding that “it is time for the negotiations to yield results”. “We in Turkey sincerely wish it and we are willing to make our contribution“, said.
In addition, the Turkish president assured that he is willing to organize a summit that brings together presidents Volodímir Zelenski and Vladimir Putin so that they can seal the peace.