Macron calls Putin over fears Russia is weaponising captured nuclear plant

Putin agrees to allow inspectors to travel to Zaporizhzhia plant, French president says, amid fears of radioactive accident if it is taken off grid

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France's president, Emmanuel Macron, has said Russia may plan to decouple the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant from the Ukrainian power grid, backing up warnings from Ukraine's own nuclear power firm.

Macron spoke to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, on Friday and said the call was necessary because of the urgent nuclear threat to Europe. Putin agreed to allow independent inspectors to go to the plant, Macron's office said, and had reconsidered" allowing the mission from the International Atomic Energy Agency to travel to the facility from Ukrainian territory.