Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in Eastern Ukraine (Photo: AFP/ VNA)

The phone call took place a day after the White House announced the 3 billion USD assistance package for Ukraine, dovetailing with Ukraine’s Independence Day.

The two leaders called for Russia to return full control of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant to Ukraine and give the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to the plant.

French President Emmanuel Macron met Thursday with Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in Paris. The two reiterated their support for sending IAEA experts to the plant as soon as possible.