Fighting intensifies near Europe's largest nuclear power plant

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says fighting has intensified near Europe's largest nuclear power plant located in Ukraine.

Hi, I'm Nicole with an update on Russia-Ukraine and other top world stories.

The director general of the U.N.'s nuclear energy watchdog, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said the increased active combat increases the possibility of a war-related accident at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

The Vienna-based agency has a rotating team based at the plant. The six reactors are shut down and the plant has been receiving the electricity it needs to prevent a meltdown through one functioning power line. Grossi said while in Ukraine on Tuesday that he will probably head to Russia in the coming days to ramp up talks on safeguarding the facility.

Also in the news, Russian President Vladimir Putin's latest nuclear saber-rattling has not prompted the U.S. to alter its strategic stance, the White House said Monday.

Putin announced plans Saturday to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, an ally that shares borders with Russia, Ukraine and three NATO countries. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the U.S. has not seen "any indications" the Kremlin intends to use nuclear arms.

More Russia-Ukraine news:

• European Council President Charles Michel has pledged to continue supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression “for as long as necessary,” adding that EU leaders will “massively ramp up” ammunition production to send to the war-torn country.

• French President Emmanuel Macron intends to discuss a resolution to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine when he meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping next month during a trip to Beijing and Guangzhou.

• Germany said late it has delivered the 18 Leopard II tanks it had promised to Ukraine. Poland, Canada, Norway and Portugal have also delivered promised Leopard tanks.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fighting intensifies near Europe's largest nuclear power plant