"We are ready to supply [gas], though little depends on us here. This is why agreements on that should probably be made directly by consumers and the country ensuring transit," Novak said on the sidelines of an event in Sochi.

Russian gas is delivered to Turkey via the Blue Stream and TurkStream pipelines, while a number of countries in southeast and central Europe still import Russian gas via TurkStream and onshore pipeline infrastructure.

Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev initiated a telephone conversation with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi on 9 August to discuss the situation around the Kursk NPP.

European natural gas prices posted a double-digit advance for a second consecutive week after fears of possible disruptions to Russian fuel supplies crossing Ukraine.

Russian gas continues to flow to the European Union through Ukraine under the current deal. Some nations still rely on this fuel, while most of northwest Europe has replaced flows from Moscow with cargoes of liquefied natural gas.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has caused immense war-related devastation, resulting in loss of life, displacement of communities and damage to infrastructure. The ongoing war is exacerbating the economic burden on Ukraine and has far-reaching implications for neighbouring countries and international stability.

Director General Grossi said “there is an urgent need for interim measures to prevent a nuclear accident arising from physical damage caused by military means. This can be achieved by the immediate establishment of a nuclear safety and security protection zone.”

Naftogaz and Gazprom signed in December 2019 a gas transit agreement under ship-or-pay terms, meaning Gazprom is obliged to pay for transit whether it uses it or not.

In the wake of its decision in March to end all nuclear fuel purchases from Russia, Energoatom has agreed to increase the supply of Westinghouse nuclear fuel for all Ukrainian NPPs including those already operating and those planned.

The nuclear power plant - the largest in Europe - is still being operated by its Ukrainian staff, but has been under the control of Russian military forces since the start of March.