Trump Seeks Control of Zaporizhzhia Plant, Zelensky Unveils
Presidents Vodolymyr Zelensky (L) and Donald Trump (R), 2025. X/ @holymagazi95752
March 20, 2025 Hour: 11:32 am
This plant, one of Europe’s largest nuclear facilities, has been under Russian control since March 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed U.S. involvement in restoring the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant during a recent phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump, Interfax-Ukraine reported Thursday.
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Zelensky said Kiev is open to U.S. participation in restoring the plant. He emphasized the need for proper infrastructure, water supply and technical personnel to ensure the plant becomes operational and profitable within two years.
Trump expressed U.S. willingness to assist in managing Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, citing American expertise in electricity and utilities. The White House suggested that “American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure.”
The Zaporizhzhia plant, one of Europe’s largest nuclear facilities, has been under Russian control since March 2022.
On Thursday, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the next Russia-U.S. talks, which Washington has said may be held on Sunday, are likely to take place early next week.
“It may not be Sunday itself, now the last nuances are being agreed,” Peskov said, adding that the meeting may happen in the next few days, possibly early next week.
Moscow and Washington will discuss the Ukraine settlement and the Black Sea initiative, which was covered during Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent phone call.
The Kremlin said after the phone call Tuesday that Putin and Trump agreed to begin talks to further work out specific details of an agreement regarding the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: Xinhua
