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| President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office of the White House, Wednesday, September 1, 2021 |
Kiev - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had "great talks" with US President Joe Biden on Thursday (08/25/2022).
Zelensky thanked Biden for his support in the war against Russia. "We discussed Ukraine's further steps on our path to victory over aggressors and (importantly) holding Russia accountable for war crimes," Zelenksy tweeted.
Zelensky also said the world had avoided a radiation accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine, after cutting off electricity to two reactors that were still operating. Ukrainian state nuclear company Energoatom said a fire in the ash pit of a coal-fired power plant near the complex had disconnected the reactor from the power grid.
The company blamed Russian "aggressors" for the blackout. Zelensky confirmed earlier comments to Reuters by an energy official, who said backup diesel generators were running immediately to ensure power supplies were not cut off. Electricity is used for cooling and safety systems in nuclear plants.
"If the diesel generators are not turned on, if our station staff do not respond after the blackout, we will be forced to deal with the aftermath of the radiation accident, Russia has put Ukraine and all Europeans in a position where there is only one step away from a possible radioactive disaster." .
He also called on the International Atomic Energy Agency and other agencies around the world to act more quickly to force Russian troops out of the area of the largest station of its kind in Europe.