President Donald Trump proposed a possible transfer of Ukrainian power plants to US ownership during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, according to a US statement.
The discussion, later clarified by Zelensky, centered on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP), currently under Russian occupation.
While the plant is still related to Ukraine’s network, it does not produce electricity, which raises questions about the feasibility and nature of any future American involvement.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is one of the world’s ten largest and the largest in Europe.
Who controls the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant?
The Russian forces, located in the Ukraine’s South Zaporizhzhia region, occupied it shortly after Moscow’s invasion of February 2022.
While Russia declared the region in the fall of 2022, its largest city, Zaporizhzhia, remains under Ukrainian control.
Ukraine accused Russia of stationing troops and weapons at the plant and used them as a launch path for attacks on the Dnipro River. Russia denies this and accuses Ukraine for setting the facility on fire.
How many nuclear power plants does Ukraine have?
In addition to Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine operates three active nuclear power plants, which generates the majority of the country’s electricity after sustained Russian attacks on thermal and hydroelectric plants.
These facilities are located in the south, western and northwest of Ukraine, away from the top areas.
What did Trump and Zelenskyy discuss and are there negotiations on the plight of Zaporizhzhia?
During their call Wednesday, Trump suggested that Zelensky should consider giving Ukraine’s US ownership plants to ensure their long -term safety, according to a statement from US Secretary Secretary Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz.
“US ownership of those plants could be the best protection for that infrastructure,” Trump suggested.
Zelensky later told journalists their conversation focused on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and the next day it made it clear that ‘the issue of ownership’ of the other three plants was never discussed.
“All nuclear power plants belong to the people of Ukraine,” he said.
Zelenskyy said that the American leader, when they discussed Zaporizhzhia, inquired about the future of the facility. “Trump asked my thoughts about the plant,” Zelensyy said. “I told him that if it is not Ukrainian, it won’t work. It is illegal. ‘
Although ZNPP is a state -owned plant, Zelenskyy admitted that if the US would claim it from Russian control, invest in it and modernize it, Ukraine would consider it. “It’s a separate question, an open,” he said.
What is the current state of the Nuclear Plant of Zaporizhzhia?
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Since falling under Russian control, the circumstances of the plant have deteriorated. While the six reactors have been closed for years, they still need strength and qualified staff to maintain cooling systems and safety functions.
Ukraine’s core operator, Energoatom, said after the Russian forces took over, Ukrainian staff were forced to sign contracts with Russian authorities and take Russian citizenship. Those who refused faced kidnapping or threats, which forced thousands to flee and the facility undermining and more difficult to manage.
The collapse of a dam in June 2023 further jeopardized the cooling systems of the plant, which relied on water from the reservoir. In response, plant administrators dug wells, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Zelensky said extensive repairs would be needed before the plant could work again, and it could estimate that the process could last at least two years.
The IAEA has repeatedly warned that the war could cause a radiation leak. While the plant no longer produces electricity, it still contains large amounts of core fuel, which needs constant cooling.
Regular eclipse caused by the fights disrupted the facility, although power was quickly restored each time.
Iaea experts who are permanently stationed there still have limited access, with the Russian authorities blocking some inspection requests, according to Iaea head Rafael Grossi.
Is any kind of agreement threatening?
Zelensky said the discussions with Trump about the recovery of Zaporizhzhia were a positive step, but warned that no one would work at the plant if the Russian forces were stationed in the area.
The control over the plant is likely to remain a legal and logistical challenge, intertwined with a very divisive issue for both warring sides: control of the country itself.
Russian troops hold the area, while the Ukrainian forces of it are separated by the Dnipro River and more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) of terrain.
“The handing over of the plant, while everything is occupied or armed by Russia within a meter – no one will work under such circumstances,” Zelenskyy said after the call with Trump. “It’s impossible.”
He said there would be no way to work safely in such a scenario. “That would mean that the plant could start working tomorrow, just to blow up the Russians the next day.”
