Putin, Macron discuss Zaporizhzhia NPP on phone

French President Emmanuel Macron called Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time since May 28, Report informs, citing the Kremlin.

During the conversation, the presidents "noted the importance of sending as soon as possible" a mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the Zaporizhzhia NPP, and the Russian president expressed readiness to assist in this mission.

Putin told Macron that the Ukrainian shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant threatens a "large-scale catastrophe." According to him, it is important to send an IAEA mission as soon as possible, which would be able to assess the real situation around the nuclear power plant on the spot.

The leaders of the two countries also discussed a deal on the export of Ukrainian grain, concluded in Istanbul on July 22. The President of Russia noted that "obstacles still remain" for the export of Russian products from the Black Sea ports.