IAEA chief on consultations with Ukraine, Russia

The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said that he has started consultations with Ukraine and Russia on his call for a "nuclear safety and security protection zone" around the Zaporizhzhia power plant, and the two sides appear to be interested.

Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General said "I have proposed the urgent establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone. I wonder what arguments could be raised against the establishment, urgent establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone." "What we need here really is Ukraine and Russia to agree on a very simple principle of not attacking or not shelling the plant and we can do that in a very simple way."

The plant has been occupied by Russian forces but operated by its Ukrainian employees since early in the conflict.