France demands withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine's nuclear power plant

By Shweta Desai

PARIS (AA) - France on Tuesday supported Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s demand for the withdrawal of Russian forces from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station.

In a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern about the security and safety of Ukrainian nuclear installations due to the presence and action of the Russian forces, according to a statement from the Elysee.

He also supported the proposal by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency to send a mission to inspect the plant, which Moscow has deemed as “too risky.”

Russia captured the nuclear plant, the largest in Europe, located in the city of Enerhodar city in southeastern Ukraine on March 4.

In recent weeks, there has been heavy shelling around and from the nuclear plant raising concerns about radiation.

The UN has warned of a nuclear disaster that could spill over Europe unless fighting stops.

Both Moscow and Kyiv have accused each other of military actions.

Zelenskyy too has warned of a catastrophe due to Russian forces’ actions and called on the Western countries to impose further sanctions on Moscow. He also vowed to target the Russian forces who either shoot at or from the plant.