Trump offers to take control of Ukraine's nuclear plants in call with Zelensky
President Donald Trump proposed that the United States take control of Ukrainian nuclear power plants to protect them from Russian attacks during a Tuesday call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky said Kyiv was "ready" to pause attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure, a day after Moscow agreed to halt similar strikes on Ukraine.
Issued on: 20/03/2025
By: FRANCE 24
Donald Trump told Volodymyr Zelensky Wednesday 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 of its neighbour.
The Ukrainian president said following their call that Kyiv was "ready" to pause attacks on Russia's energy network and infrastructure, a day after Vladimir Putin agreed to halt similar strikes on Ukraine.
Zelensky also said he had discussed Trump's power plant takeover plan.
"We talked only about one power plant, which is under Russian occupation," Zelensky, who was on an official visit to Finland, said during an online briefing, referring to the plant in Zaporizhzhia.
He added that he had "not felt any pressure" from Trump to make concessions to Russia.
But a wider ceasefire remains elusive with the Kremlin leader insisting in his own call with Trump on Tuesday that the West first stop all military aid for Ukraine.
Republican Trump's tone was markedly more positive after the Zelensky call, with the White House describing it as "fantastic" – despite the fact that the two men had a blazing televised row in the Oval Office recently.
Trump "discussed Ukraine's electrical supply and nuclear power plants" and said Washington could be "very helpful" in running them," National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a joint statement.
"American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure," it said.
'Ending the war'
Trump also pledged to help Kyiv get more air defense equipment from Europe, and to find Ukrainian children "abducted" by Russia, the statement said.
The US president earlier said on his Truth Social network that efforts to reach a full truce were "very much on track."
Zelensky said Ukrainian and US officials could meet in coming days for fresh talks in Saudi Arabia, where Russian and American teams are also due to meet early next week.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged 372 prisoners, Moscow said Wednesday, which was planned as a goodwill gesture following the Trump-Putin call.
Kyiv and Moscow however accused each other of continuing attacks.
Ukraine's defense ministry said an overnight barrage of Russian missiles and drones struck the war-battered nation, killing one person and damaging two hospitals.
Ukraine's national railway service said the barrage had hit railway energy infrastructure in the central Dnipropetrovsk region.
Russia's defense ministry reported a "deliberate" Ukrainian attack overnight on an oil depot in the south of the country, which they said was aimed at "derailing" Trump's attempts to broker an end to the fighting.
"These attacks are countering our common efforts," added Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, referring to the US-Russia talks.
'Don't believe Putin'
The major sticking point remains Putin's resistance to a full ceasefire – something that Kyiv and some Western allies say underscores how the Russian leader cannot be trusted.
Putin insisted during his call with Trump on Tuesday that a full ceasefire was only possible if the West agrees to Moscow's long-standing demand to halt its billions of dollars in military aid for Ukraine.
The Kremlin chief also demanded Ukraine must not be allowed to rearm and must halt mandatory mobilisation.
Moscow and Washington were even at odds on the results of the call.
The Kremlin said they only discussed halting power plant attacks, but the White House insisted the talks covered both energy and other civilian infrastructure.
Trump's overtures to Putin, and indications Washington will no longer guarantee European security, have also spooked Kyiv and the United States's NATO allies.
"I don't believe Putin at all, not a single word. He only understands force," said Kyiv resident Lev Sholoudko, 32.
In Moscow, locals were more optimistic the talks could bring an end to the fighting – to Russia's advantage.
"Definitely this is in our favour," said Moscow resident Larisa, 46. "There is no other way. What happened in 1945 will happen now," she added, referring to the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
IAEA will support Zaporizhzhia, whatever agreement is reached
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi says they "stand ready" to support the implementation of any future agreement regarding Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, after its status was included in ceasefire talks.
The six-unit Zaporizhzhia plant - Ukraine and Europe's largest nuclear power site - has been under Russian military control since early March 2022. It is located very close to the current military frontline and has had teams of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts stationed at it since September 2022 as part of efforts to try to minimise risks to its safety and security.
Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks about a possible ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war. It included an initial measure to agree to not target energy infrastructure.
The White House said that during a subsequent phone call between Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky: "President Trump also discussed Ukraine’s electrical supply and nuclear power plants. He said that the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise. American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure."
The Ukrainian Presidential office's report on the call did not mention nuclear energy facilities and, at a press conference in Norway, Zelensky said there had been no discussion between the two about US ownership of Zaporizhzhia or Ukraine's other nuclear power plants. He said that the nuclear energy sector in Ukraine was state-owned and belonged to the Ukrainian people.
Ukraine's position since the start of the war has been that the only way to ensure the safety of the plant is for it to be returned to Ukraine. Russia says that it is meeting all security and safety requirements and has started the process of getting Russian regulatory approvals for possible restarting of units in the future (all six units are currently in cold shutdown).
In his latest update on the situation in Ukraine, Grossi said he welcomed “developments on restraint around energy infrastructure” and added: "Without interruption, the IAEA has been present at this major nuclear plant for two and a half years now, doing everything possible to help prevent a potentially disastrous nuclear accident. We all wish for this devastating war to end as soon as possible.
"With our in-depth knowledge and expertise about the situation at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, we stand ready to provide our technical contributions and support in the implementation of a future agreement regarding the plant. We will remain present for as long as it is needed to help ensure nuclear safety and security."
He added that staff at Zaporizhzhia had reported a quieter week in terms of hearing military activity from the plant, and various maintenance works had been taking place with progress made in bringing a 330 kV back-up external power line back into operation.
"For all nuclear power plants, regular maintenance of structures, systems and components is necessary to prevent degradation of these essential items that would increase the risks to nuclear safety and security," Grossi said. "This has been a particularly challenging issue during the past three years of war, when much of the focus has been on averting more immediate threats to nuclear safety and security and there has also been a lack of staff and other resources. That remains very much the case but it is positive that some maintenance is still being carried out."
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