Enlarge image
Freighter "Lady Zehma" on the Bosphorus
Photo: YORUK ISIK / REUTERS
That says Kyiv
According to
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
,
Russia
has prevented
international media representatives
from accompanying experts from the
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA ) to the
Zaporizhia
nuclear power plant
.
It had been agreed with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi that Ukrainian and international journalists could be present on the mission to the Russian-occupied power plant in southern Ukraine, the head of state said in his daily video address on Thursday evening.
'Independent journalists.
So that the world can see the truth.« Unfortunately, the »occupiers« would not have let any journalists in.
The inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency arrived on Thursday afternoon at the power plant, which had been under fire for weeks, to examine it for
damage, for example.
When Grossi made a statement in front of the nuclear power plant, only microphones from
Russian media
could be seen on Russian state television.
The IAEA boss later published his own video on Twitter.
He hopes that the mission will nevertheless allow objective conclusions to be drawn about the situation, said Zelenskyj.
He once again called for the demilitarization of the site.
"This is the goal of Ukrainian and international efforts."
Only when Russian troops have left the nuclear power plant and the shelling of the power plant town of Enerhodar and other nearby areas has stopped can the nuclear power plant work safely.
Before his visit to
Germany
, the
Ukrainian Prime Minister
Denys Schmyhal asked
the
federal government to use
battle tanks
to ward off the Russian attackers
.
“We need a change in the philosophy of arms deliveries.
By that I mean: Modern battle tanks should also be delivered," said Schmyhal of the dpa news agency.
"We expect the USA to supply us with their Abrams tanks and from Germany we expect Leopard 2s. These are the modern tanks that Ukraine needs on the battlefield."
Schmyhal is expected in Berlin on Saturday.
On Sunday he will be received by Chancellor
Olaf Scholz
in the Chancellery.
He is the highest-ranking Ukrainian politician to visit Berlin since the Russian war of aggression began a good six months ago.
After initial hesitation, Germany has delivered numerous heavy weapons to Ukraine in recent months: ten heavy artillery pieces of the Panzerhaubitze 2000 type, 15 anti-aircraft tanks, three multiple rocket launchers and three armored recovery vehicles.
"Germany has made immense progress in supporting Ukraine with arms," Schmyhal said.
In the beginning only protective equipment or helmets were delivered, today it is the most modern weapons.
"Of course, we want to get more weapons and equipment as soon as possible."
The direct delivery of battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles is still taboo for Scholz.
No other NATO state has so far handed over such weapon systems to Ukraine.
However, Spain has offered German-made Leopard 2 tanks.
International Reactions
The
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
wants to establish a
permanent mission at the
Zaporizhia
nuclear power plant
in southern Ukraine.
IAEA boss Rafael said on Thursday evening in a video statement published on Twitter.
Inspectors had previously started their work in the nuclear power plant, which has been under fire for months.
Grossi spoke of a "long-awaited visit".
Russia had shown itself open to a permanent IAEA mission at the power plant.
Kyiv, on the other hand, insists on the complete withdrawal of Russian troops and a demilitarization of the power plant area.
The IAEA mission should represent the first step.
Grossi said on Wednesday that the inspection should initially take several days.
"I've just completed a first tour of the key areas," Grossi said in the video.
There is still a lot to do.
Nine experts, including Grossi, left the site in the afternoon and are leading back to Ukrainian territory, five remained on site at the power plant for further investigations.
In the discussion about
entry restrictions
for Russian
citizens
in the
EU
, the countries bordering Russia want to hold talks about a regional solution.
“The first meetings of the five states will take place next week.
We hope for a joint agreement," Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said on Thursday in Vilnius, according to the BNS agency.
Possible measures by the Baltic States, Poland and Finland include additional questions for cross-border workers or warnings that only holders of certain types of visas should be allowed through the border.
The EU decided on Wednesday to
completely suspend an
agreement
with
Russia
to facilitate the issuing of visas
.
The move is another sanction in response to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
It is considered a minimal compromise in the EU dispute that has been going on for weeks about how visa applications from Russian nationals should be handled.
The Baltic states in particular are pushing for a fundamental freeze on tourist visas in the Schengen area.
economic consequences
A
freighter carrying
grain from Ukraine has
run aground in the Bosphorus Strait
.
The reason was a malfunction at the rudder, the state news agency Anadolu reported on Thursday evening.
The strait was initially closed to shipping.
The ship "Lady Zehma" has loaded
3,000 tons of corn
and is on its way to Italy, according to the Istanbul-based control center for Ukrainian grain exports.
The Bosphorus and the Dardanelles are important thoroughfares connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.
According to Turkish authorities, more than 40,000 ships pass through the Bosphorus every year.
Agricultural exports via the Ukrainian Black Sea ports have been blocked for months due to the Russian war of aggression.
War opponents Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement with Turkey on July 22, mediated by the United Nations, to allow grain exports from Ukraine from three ports.
It is estimated that more than 20 million tons of grain products are stored in Ukraine.
Chancellor
Scholz
(SPD) sees
the vast majority of
society under pressure due to the sharp
rise in energy prices
.
The prices are a problem "for almost everyone in Germany," he said on Thursday evening in a discussion with citizens in Essen.
Even those who have a “completely normal income” are “already starting to ponder”.
In his opinion, this will "become even more, I'm not deluding myself," added Scholz.
"Because many haven't even seen the higher heating bills, the higher electricity bills."
Scholz again assured that the federal government would do “everything possible” “so that we can get through this situation”.
A lot has already been done, but "we know that this is not enough".
what is happening today
The leaders of the
Union faction
in the Bundestag continue their deliberations on the consequences of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine for the people of Germany.
The focus should once again be on the planned further relief for citizens.
The chairman of the Union faction invited the President of the European Commission
Ursula von der Leyen
as well as Veronika Grimm.
jok/Reuters/dpa
