The Russian Foreign Ministry appears to have struck a blow to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) proposals to create a demilitarized protected zone around the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant, CNN reports.

The spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, answered the question of the Russian news agency about the status of the plant, which has been occupied by Russian troops since the beginning of March.

The news agency asked: “The head of the IAEA, Raphael Grossi, said that experts are close to an acceptable agreement between Ukraine and Russia on the creation of a safety zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZAEP). How do you comment on this” statement? Is it possible to transfer control of the ZANP power plant to a third party? Is the visit of IAEA head R. Grossi to Russia expected?”

In response, Zakharova stated that there is no question of exiting the Zaporizhzhya NPP and removing it from Russian control or transferring control over it to a third party.”

“The plant is located on the territory of Russia and is fully controlled by Russia. We proceed from the fact that only we are able to ensure the physical and nuclear safety of the ZNPP,” Zakharova concluded.