LIVE UPDATES: Nebenzia Says Russia to Regard Ukrainian Use of ‘Dirty Bomb’ Act of Nuclear Terrorism

"Euro-Atlantic solidarity with Ukraine is essential. We also focused on deliveries of air defense and ammo," he said.

The letter also urged the Western countries and the UN Secretary-General to exert their influence on Kiev and prevent a heinous crime from happening.

"Comprehensive meeting with @SecBlinken today in Washington DC. I stressed @IAEAorg safeguards inspectors will visit #Ukraine this week and thanked the #US for supporting our efforts to establish a Nuclear Safety & Security Protection Zone at #Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant," Grossi wrote on Twitter.

Moscow has warned the West against further involvement in the conflict, while the EU, the US and NATO have maintained that they are not part to the hostilities despite training Ukrainian soldiers, sending their instructors and hardware to Ukraine, and providing intelligence.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has also received information that the provocation may be carried out with the support of Western countries. Russia calls on Guterres to do everything in his power to prevent the use of such a weapon.

Grossi also said that inspectors visited one of the sites a month ago and found no undeclared activity or nuclear material.

NBC reported last week, citing legislators and aides familiar with the effort, that US lawmakers are looking to pass a new $50 billion military aid package for Ukraine before January amid concerns that the upcoming midterm elections in November could usher in a new Congress less willing to prop up Kiev.

Russia launched a series of airstrikes against Ukrainian targets in October in response to a giant explosion that damaged the bridge linking the Crimea Peninsula to mainland Russia and killed four civilians.

According to CBS, its commanders told the broadcaster that while they're there to defend NATO soil, if the fighting escalates or there's an attack on the alliance, they're fully prepared to cross into Ukraine.

"These discussions have been ongoing," Price said. "There have been active discussions including in recent days."

"We certainly appreciate the sentiment as expressed by these members of Congress, we are aware of their letter, we have a hearing at the White House and, again, we appreciate their very thoughtful concerns about what's going on in the war in Ukraine," Kirby said during a press briefing regarding Democrats' call for the United States to hold direct talks with Russia. "It's clear Mr. Putin is in no mood to negotiate."

"At this time... we've not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture nor do we have indications that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons," Price said during a press briefing.

"All I can assure you is that we are taking that seriously, and we are monitoring as best as we can. I can also say, we just see no indication of preparations at this point," Kirby said during a press briefing.

Moscow demands that Kiev and its "Western sponsors" stop taking actions that could lead the world to a nuclear catastrophe, as well as ignore Russia's warnings, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Monday.

"We demand that the Kiev authorities and the Western sponsors who control them stop taking actions that lead the world to a nuclear catastrophe and threaten the lives of innocent civilians. It is reckless to ignore Russian warnings on this issue," Zakharova said, commenting on information about Kiev's plans to stage a provocation using a "dirty bomb."

Moscow and Tehran gave exhaustive explanations to the UN Security Council on the alleged use of "Iranian drones" in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday.

"As for the specific situation with 'drones from Iran,' an exhaustive answer was officially given, including in the UN Security Council, by representatives of Iran and representatives of the Russian Federation," Lavrov told reporters on the sidelines of the Valdai International Discussion Club.

Russia will send a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday in connection with Kiev plotting a "dirty bomb" provocation, Russian deputy envoy to the United Nations Dmitry Polyanskiy said.

"More details on the planned Ukrainian provocation with #dirtybomb. We will send a letter to @antonioguterres on this issue later today," Polyanskiy tweeted.

Russian Armed Forces' Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov had a phone conversation with UK Defense Staff Chief Tony Radakin, which, in particular, focused on the threat of Ukraine using a "dirty bomb," the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

"On October 24, 2022, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Russian First Deputy Defense Minister, Gen, of the Army V.V. Gerasimov, had a phone conversation with the Chief of the UK Defense Staff, Adm. A. Radakin. During the conversation, the discussion with the British side of the situation related to the possible use of a "dirty bomb" by Ukraine was continued," the ministry said.

Since February 24, the territory of the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant (NPP) has undergone 39 strikes from Kiev, including 10 using drones, Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of the radiation, chemical and biological defense of the Russian armed forces, said on Monday.

"From February 24 to the present, the territory of the Zaporozhye NPP was subjected to 39 fire strikes by the Ukrainian armed forces, 10 of which using unmanned aerial vehicles and 29 using various artillery systems," Kirillov said.

According to the official, despite the visit of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to the power plant, Ukrainian troops do not abandon attempts to "seize the NPP in a sabotage way."

"So, on September 1, 15 and 30, as well as on October 17, special units of the Ukrainian armed forces tried to land troops through the Kakhovka Reservoir and take control of the power plant," Kirillov added.