Russia says it's ready to return or use US nuclear fuel at Zaporizhzhia plant in Ukraine

MOSCOW, June 6 (Reuters) - Russia is ready to use U.S.-supplied nuclear fuel currently stored at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, or to fully remove it and return it to the U.S., a Russian nuclear official said on Friday.

Alexei Likhachev, the head of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) might act as a mediator to resolve the issue.

IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, in televised comments after meeting Likhachev, said the U.N. agency was ready to play a mediating role.