Here are the latest developments in the war in Ukraine:
– UN team visits endangered nuclear power plant –
A 14-strong team of UN nuclear inspectors is visiting the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine to ensure its safety amid fears the war raging nearby could spark a nuclear accident.
Inspections of Europe’s largest nuclear facility continued despite more shelling in the area, forcing the closure of one of its six reactors. Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of being responsible for the attacks.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, announced after the visit that the IAEA would “stay” on the station.
“The IAEA stays here. Let the world know that the IAEA stays in Zaporizhia,” he says.
– Macron defends the deployment of Putin –
French President Emmanuel Macron defends his policy of dialogue with Russia, saying Turkey shouldn’t be the only world power speaking to Moscow.
Macron was criticized early in the war for his failed attempts to dissuade his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin from invading Ukraine. After a lengthy hiatus following widespread allegations of Russian war crimes in Ukraine, he spoke to Putin again on August 19.
“Who wants Turkey to be the only world power that keeps talking to Russia?” said the President at a meeting of French ambassadors at the Elysée Palace.
“The job of a diplomat is to talk to everyone, especially people with whom we disagree.”
– Putin visits Kaliningrad –
As tensions between Moscow and the West mount, Putin visits Russia’s Baltic Sea region of Kaliningrad, wedged between NATO member states.
Kaliningrad is separated from mainland Russia by Lithuania, which firmly supports Ukraine.
Russia clashed with Lithuania in June after Vilnius banned rail transit of sanctioned goods from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. Later, the EU ordered Lithuania to allow goods through except arms.
