Trump Proposes U.S. Control of Ukrainian Nuclear Plants as Part of Ceasefire Negotiations

President Donald Trump proposed that the U.S. take charge of Ukraine’s nuclear power facilities to protect the nation’s energy infrastructure as part of a ceasefire initiative during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday.

Trump suggested that the U.S. could either manage or potentially own the nuclear plants, which currently supply about two-thirds of Ukraine’s electricity.

«He indicated that the United States could play a crucial role in ensuring these facilities remain operational,» White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Wednesday. «Ownership by the U.S. would provide optimal protection for this vital infrastructure and assist Ukraine in meeting its energy requirements.»

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright commented that American oversight of Ukrainian nuclear power stations might enhance peace negotiations.

«How do we achieve peace in Ukraine? How can we end the conflict, which requires both parties to cease hostilities? If managing nuclear power plants in Ukraine can facilitate that goal, we can certainly do it,» he remarked.

He emphasized America’s technical capabilities, saying, «The U.S. possesses significant expertise in managing those facilities. I don’t believe this requires a military presence.»

The discussion between Trump and Zelensky centered on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest reactor, situated in a region annexed by Russia in 2022.

Zelensky later informed the Financial Times that their conversation was limited to the Zaporizhzhia plant and did not confirm any plans for U.S. control over Ukraine’s nuclear power infrastructure.

The Zaporizhzhia facility has already been a topic in negotiations with Russia, as it is currently occupied by Russian forces and may serve as leverage in ongoing discussions for a ceasefire.

Trump reached out to Zelensky to relay details from his 1.5-hour conversation with Vladimir Putin the previous day, where the Russian president committed to suspending attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for 30 days.

Plans regarding the potential management of the nuclear plants will be discussed at a meeting in Saudi Arabia over the weekend.

Zelensky indicated that a halt on energy-targeting strikes could be implemented swiftly, but cautioned that Ukraine would respond equally if Russia breached the ceasefire conditions. He mentioned that Kyiv would create a list of facilities subject to a partial ceasefire mediated by Washington, covering not only energy but also railways and ports.

Additionally, Zelensky requested more air defense systems from the U.S. to protect civilians, an issue Trump agreed to coordinate with European partners.

According to Reuters, Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine had received new F-16 fighter jets, although he did not disclose the number or details of the delivery.

A fatigued Zelensky described his call with Trump as «probably the most substantive and positive» he has had so far and added that he did not feel pressured during their conversation, as reported by Reuters.

The idea of U.S. control over Ukraine’s functioning nuclear power plants is a new element added to earlier discussions regarding a minerals deal, where the U.S. would receive half of the revenues from Ukraine’s substantial mineral resources. This deal is currently on hold pending a ceasefire agreement with Russia.

The White House indicated that Trump has «moved beyond» earlier proposals concerning American companies extracting oil, gas, and rare metals in Ukraine, shifting focus instead to stabilizing the region’s energy infrastructure based on their conversation.

Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy for the Middle East, mentioned that another round of discussions between U.S. and Russian officials aimed at a permanent ceasefire and ending the war is scheduled in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Sunday. It remains uncertain whether Ukraine will participate in these talks.

This article first appeared in bne IntelliNews.