An IAEA mission could head to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant within the next few days if the negotiations succeed, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said Tuesday. 
 
In a statement posted on the IAEA website, Grossi said, "I’m continuing to consult very actively and intensively with all parties so that this vital IAEA mission can take place without further delay. The IAEA’s presence will help stabilize the nuclear safety and security situation at the site and reduce the risk of a severe nuclear accident in Europe. The mission is expected to take place within the next few days if ongoing negotiations succeed."

The possible mission visit was discussed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his French counterpart, Catherine Colonna during a phone conversation they held on Tuesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. 
 
"The sides discussed in detail the situation around the Zaporizhzhia NPP and the opportunities available for organizing a visit to the station by the IAEA mission. Lavrov noted that the Kiev regime continues to shell the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and the territory adjacent to it, exposes the entire European population to the danger of a nuclear catastrophe with the obvious complicity of its foreign sponsors," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia expresses deep regret

In this regard, Russia regrets that the IAEA mission to the Zaporozhye NPP has not yet taken place due to the UN Secretariat's "unscrupulous games", Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. 

"We express our deep regret that the mission has not yet taken place. As you know, this is a deplorable result of unscrupulous games on the part of the UN Secretariat," she said in a statement.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Friday it was actively consulting with all parties on sending a mission to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant as soon as possible.

The agency underlined that taking the seriousness of the situation into perspective, IAEA director general Rafael Grossi had reiterated the need to send a mission to carry out basic measures to ensure physical and nuclear security and safeguards at the facility. 

IAEA visit to Zaporozhye NPP via Kiev 'very dangerous': Moscow

A trip by an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation to the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP) through Kiev and then across the contact line will be very dangerous, asserted Igor Vishnevetsky, the Deputy Director of the Department for Non-Proliferation and Arms Control at the Russian Foreign Ministry last week.

Commenting on statements made in Kiev that the purpose of the inspectors' visit is the demilitarization of the NPP, Vishnevetsky argued "The IAEA is not engaged in demilitarization and security. It has a clear mandate, which is the implementation of IAEA guarantees," adding "This is just an irresponsible statement."

Two weeks ago, Russia accused the office of the United Nations Secretary-General of obstructing the work of IAEA experts and preventing them from visiting the Zaporozhye NPP in eastern Ukraine.

Russian forces have had complete control over the nuclear plant since March, but drone attacks by Ukrainian forces have regularly targeted the facility, leading Russia to request help from the IAEA to address security issues.

Read more: Ukraine attacks Europe's largest nuclear power plant with drones