Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's answers to media questions on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum, Vladivostok, September 7, 2022

Question: How do you assess the IAEA report on the situation at the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant presented by Rafael Grossi? What is constructive about it and what raises concerns?

Sergey Lavrov: Both Russian envoys – Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya (when the issue was discussed in the UN Security Council) and Permanent Representative to the international organisations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov – have already commented on this report. All our approaches have been outlined. 

Question: Will the report be published?

Sergey Lavrov: We need to get additional clarification, because there are a number of questions about the report. I will not list them now. I requested these explanations from IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

Question: The Americans write that they might take time before they name a new ambassador to Russia.

Sergey Lavrov: That's what they said.  I can't answer for their words.

Question: Could this further complicate the situation?

Sergey Lavrov: Nothing can complicate the current situation any further.

Question: The media report that Russia is going to buy ammunition from North Korea. Is this a fake story?

Sergey Lavrov: Everything has already been said about this.  All comments have been made.