US Could Run Ukraine’s Nuclear Plant, Says Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed with US President Donald Trump the US owning the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant to help secure a ceasefire.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Source : PTI

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that during the phone call, on Wednesday, with US counterpart Donald Trump, they discussed the possibility of the United States owning the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.

During the hour-long phone conversation, Trump told Zelenskyy that the United States could own and run Ukraine's nuclear power plants as part of his latest bid to secure a ceasefire in Russia's invasion.

"We talked only about one power plant, which is under Russian occupation," Zelenskyy, according to AFP.

The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is the largest in Europe and Russian forces captured it during the early days of the invasion in February 2022, since then it has been the focal point of nuclear incident concerns.

Both Ukraine and Europe require the generation capacity of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. However, Zelenskyy said that it could take more than two years for it to be completely functional. "Do we need it? For people, yes, and for Europe, too. To join the European electronic network — absolutely. We can do all this," he told reporters, as per AFP.

Similarly, as per a Reuters report, a statement by the US presidential administration said earlier that Trump suggested to Zelenskyy that the US could help run and possibly own, Ukraine's nuclear power plants and energy infrastructure.

Not Just The Nuclear Power Plant

After the shouting match between Zelenskyy and Trump in the Oval Office on February 28, the Ukrainian leader said Kyiv would prepare a list of facilities eligible for a partial ceasefire mediated by Washington. According to Reuters, that list could include not only energy but also rail and port infrastructure, he said, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to Trump and agreed to pause attacks on energy infrastructure.

Zelenskyy told reporters that he still wanted Trump to visit Ukraine and that he believed it would help the US president in his efforts to halt the war.

Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff announced that Russian and US officials will hold another round of talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday to discuss a permanent ceasefire and ending the war. It remains uncertain if Ukraine will participate.

Zelenskyy mentioned that Ukrainian and US officials may meet in Saudi Arabia on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday to discuss technical details.

'No Pressure From Trump'

Zelensky told reporters that Trump had not mounted any pressure on Kyiv to capitulate to the Kremlin demands. "I want to be frank, very frank. Today I did not feel any pressure from Trump, there was none. And this is a fact. You know that I am an open person. If it was, I would have told you frankly," he said, as per AFP.

This is despite Trump assuming office in January, he has pushed speedy resolution to the three-year-long conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Last week, Trump backed a US-led proposal for a complete and unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, but the Kremlin refused and instead proposed a halt on strikes on energy infrastructure. However, Zelenskyy said, that Putin is unlikely to agree to a ceasefire while Ukrainian troops continue their offensive in Russia's Kursk region, which began last year and has faced challenges.

The shift from the previous US administration's approach has sparked concerns in Ukraine about potential pressure to make unpopular concessions, such as ceding territory to Russia.

Kyiv's forces attempted a surprise incursion into the region last August but were later confined to a small area following Russia's multi-stage counteroperation.