٠٠:٠٢:٤٤Mandatory credit: Rosatom
Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev said the isolation of Russia and its nuclear industry on the international stage is 'out of the question', noting that 'more than 30 countries' had expressed a 'desire to hold talks' with the corporation, from the sidelines of the 68th session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna on Monday.
"More than 30 countries have expressed a desire to hold talks with us. Taking into account both the reaction to the speech at the plenary session and the level of discussions with countries, bilateral partners, we can draw one conclusion: that isolation of Russia, isolation of the Russian nuclear industry, and Rosatom is out of the question," he said.
According to Likhachev, the number of partners exploring co-operation with Rosatom and willing to expand the 'joint agenda' is growing.
The Rosatom head also noted that the safety of nuclear facilities was an 'absolute priority and value' for Russia and claimed those posing 'threats' to the Zaporozhye and Kursk nuclear power plants were not named because of the 'pressure from the West'.
"We already know of instances of damage to the infrastructure of the plants [Zaporozhye and Kursk NPPs] and social facilities in the places of residence of nuclear power plant workers, which violates the safety principles proclaimed by the IAEA. <...> Under pressure from the West, sometimes under direct threats from the leaders of Western countries, the real actors behind these threats are not named, although the facts were identified, including very serious damage to the infrastructure of nuclear facilities and therefore to safety," Likhachev said.
The same day at the conference, IAEA Head Rafael Grossi said that the threat of a nuclear accident is 'always present' due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Following an IAEA visit to Kursk NPP last month, Grossi warned of the risk of a 'nuclear incident' due to military operations taking place nearby after Ukrainian forces made an incursion into the Russian region. Likhachev noted that strikes on the Kursk NPP could cause "irreparable damage to the development of nuclear power plants in the world as a whole".
Grossi also visited the Zaparozhye NPP following claims of a UAV strike, which he described as 'reckless'.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russia for the fire at the Zaparozhye NPP, declaring that "only Ukrainian control over the Zaporozhye plant can guarantee a return to normality and complete safety."
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow would 'insist that the IAEA names the perpetrator of this attack', adding that "further silencing of this fact only condones Kiev’s sense of impunity."
Since July 2022, Moscow and Kiev have repeatedly accused each other of shelling the nuclear facility, after Russia took control of the plant in March of the same year. The IAEA has maintained a presence at Zaporozhye NPP since September 2022 to monitor safety at the facility.
'Isolation of Russian nuclear industry out of the question' - Rosatom CEO Likhachev
Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev said the isolation of Russia and its nuclear industry on the international stage is 'out of the question', noting that 'more than 30 countries' had expressed a 'desire to hold talks' with the corporation, from the sidelines of the 68th session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna on Monday.
"More than 30 countries have expressed a desire to hold talks with us. Taking into account both the reaction to the speech at the plenary session and the level of discussions with countries, bilateral partners, we can draw one conclusion: that isolation of Russia, isolation of the Russian nuclear industry, and Rosatom is out of the question," he said.
According to Likhachev, the number of partners exploring co-operation with Rosatom and willing to expand the 'joint agenda' is growing.
The Rosatom head also noted that the safety of nuclear facilities was an 'absolute priority and value' for Russia and claimed those posing 'threats' to the Zaporozhye and Kursk nuclear power plants were not named because of the 'pressure from the West'.
"We already know of instances of damage to the infrastructure of the plants [Zaporozhye and Kursk NPPs] and social facilities in the places of residence of nuclear power plant workers, which violates the safety principles proclaimed by the IAEA. <...> Under pressure from the West, sometimes under direct threats from the leaders of Western countries, the real actors behind these threats are not named, although the facts were identified, including very serious damage to the infrastructure of nuclear facilities and therefore to safety," Likhachev said.
The same day at the conference, IAEA Head Rafael Grossi said that the threat of a nuclear accident is 'always present' due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Following an IAEA visit to Kursk NPP last month, Grossi warned of the risk of a 'nuclear incident' due to military operations taking place nearby after Ukrainian forces made an incursion into the Russian region. Likhachev noted that strikes on the Kursk NPP could cause "irreparable damage to the development of nuclear power plants in the world as a whole".
Grossi also visited the Zaparozhye NPP following claims of a UAV strike, which he described as 'reckless'.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russia for the fire at the Zaparozhye NPP, declaring that "only Ukrainian control over the Zaporozhye plant can guarantee a return to normality and complete safety."
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow would 'insist that the IAEA names the perpetrator of this attack', adding that "further silencing of this fact only condones Kiev’s sense of impunity."
Since July 2022, Moscow and Kiev have repeatedly accused each other of shelling the nuclear facility, after Russia took control of the plant in March of the same year. The IAEA has maintained a presence at Zaporozhye NPP since September 2022 to monitor safety at the facility.
Mandatory credit: Rosatom
Rosatom Director General Alexei Likhachev said the isolation of Russia and its nuclear industry on the international stage is 'out of the question', noting that 'more than 30 countries' had expressed a 'desire to hold talks' with the corporation, from the sidelines of the 68th session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna on Monday.
"More than 30 countries have expressed a desire to hold talks with us. Taking into account both the reaction to the speech at the plenary session and the level of discussions with countries, bilateral partners, we can draw one conclusion: that isolation of Russia, isolation of the Russian nuclear industry, and Rosatom is out of the question," he said.
According to Likhachev, the number of partners exploring co-operation with Rosatom and willing to expand the 'joint agenda' is growing.
The Rosatom head also noted that the safety of nuclear facilities was an 'absolute priority and value' for Russia and claimed those posing 'threats' to the Zaporozhye and Kursk nuclear power plants were not named because of the 'pressure from the West'.
"We already know of instances of damage to the infrastructure of the plants [Zaporozhye and Kursk NPPs] and social facilities in the places of residence of nuclear power plant workers, which violates the safety principles proclaimed by the IAEA. <...> Under pressure from the West, sometimes under direct threats from the leaders of Western countries, the real actors behind these threats are not named, although the facts were identified, including very serious damage to the infrastructure of nuclear facilities and therefore to safety," Likhachev said.
The same day at the conference, IAEA Head Rafael Grossi said that the threat of a nuclear accident is 'always present' due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Following an IAEA visit to Kursk NPP last month, Grossi warned of the risk of a 'nuclear incident' due to military operations taking place nearby after Ukrainian forces made an incursion into the Russian region. Likhachev noted that strikes on the Kursk NPP could cause "irreparable damage to the development of nuclear power plants in the world as a whole".
Grossi also visited the Zaparozhye NPP following claims of a UAV strike, which he described as 'reckless'.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed Russia for the fire at the Zaparozhye NPP, declaring that "only Ukrainian control over the Zaporozhye plant can guarantee a return to normality and complete safety."
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow would 'insist that the IAEA names the perpetrator of this attack', adding that "further silencing of this fact only condones Kiev’s sense of impunity."
Since July 2022, Moscow and Kiev have repeatedly accused each other of shelling the nuclear facility, after Russia took control of the plant in March of the same year. The IAEA has maintained a presence at Zaporozhye NPP since September 2022 to monitor safety at the facility.