Dep FM-Talks w/IAEA On Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant May Take Place Soon

Wires carrying comments attributed to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin stating that the Russian gov't and the International Atomic Energy Agency could soon hold talks in Moscow regarding the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is Ukrainian territory annexed by Russia and sits close to the front line of fighting between the two sides.

• International efforts to maintain relative peace around the plant continue, but direct shelling is a regular occurrence raising the risk of a major nuclear event.
• Comes as the Kremlin confirms that Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold a meeting of the state council on 22 December. There has been notable focus on the decision of Putin not to hold his annual marathon press conference this year, usually a time when he would take questions from foreign as well as domestic journalists. The State Council could be an opportunity for Putin to set out 2023 aims without the potential difficulty of facing journalists questions.