French President Emmanuel Macron held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the Elysee, President Macron called on Vladimir Putin to withdraw Russian weaponry from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant amid growing international concerns about a potential catastrophe, and to end the war against Ukraine. Macron has told Vladimir Putin that the Russian military presence in the area was the reason for the risks. For his part, Russia’s President Putin put the blame on Ukraine, claiming it was firing on the nuclear power plant, according to the Kremlin’s version of the call. Vladimir Putin accused the Ukrainian army of shelling the Zaporizhzhia NPP and warned of “potential catastrophic consequences”.

Consultations have begun on the urgent need to establish a nuclear safety and security protection zone at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi said.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia was responsible for sweeping electricity cuts across East Ukraine, which affected 5 regions.

In an interview for CNN, Zelensky said he was not ready to negotiate with Russia, because “a dialogue cannot be held with those who are giving ultimatums”.

The Ukrainian army has liberated 20 new settlements in the past 24 hours, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces announced.