The U.N. atomic agency has got caught up in the diplomatic crossfire over Crimea as Russia insists its agreements with the Vienna-based watchdog now also cover the annexed Black Sea peninsula, a confidential exchange showed on Friday. Ukraine, for its part, urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) "to avoid any actions" which might be construed as recognition of Russia's annexation of the region. Faced with the worst East-West confrontation since the end of the Cold War, the U.N. agency issued a cautious statement telling Russia it would "continue to implement safeguards in accordance with the IAEA statute and international law". Reuters obtained the notes from Russia and Ukraine to the IAEA, along with its replies, shortly after they were sent to the Vienna-based organisation's member states. Western diplomats interpreted the IAEA response as a setback for Moscow. There was no immediate comment from Russian diplomats or from the agency itself. -- SPA 23:58 LOCAL TIME 20:58 GMT تغريد
