Ukraine's energy minister has told Reuters in an interview that he has seen no signs of a deal involving Russia, Ukraine, and the UN's nuclear watchdog on resolving the situation at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.
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Asked if he saw any progress, Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko told Reuters in an interview published on October 21: "Not at this stage."
Russian troops have occupied the plant, Europe's biggest nuclear station, since shortly after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in late February. The plant is still operated by its Ukrainian staff, but the situation is a source of international concern because of fears that repeated shelling near the plant could lead to a nuclear accident.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, which has observers at Zaporizhzhya, has sought a protection zone around the plant.
Halushchenko said he doesn't believe it will be possible to reach an agreement with Russia on such a move.
Asked at what point it would be too dangerous for Ukrainian staff to continue working at the plant, he said: "This point is a nuclear accident."
Such an evacuation could only happen "several hours before [a] real catastrophe," as Russia cannot substitute the thousands of Ukrainian staff at the plant, Halushchenko said.