The US could own and run Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, US President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a telephone call as part of a bid to secure a ceasefire in Russia’s invasion.
The offer came as about 30 military chiefs from countries keen to help protect an eventual ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine prepared for talks in Britain to discuss planning for a peacekeeping force.
EU leaders were to discuss the three-year war at a summit in Brussels yesterday, as well as the bloc’s defense capabilities.
Photo: AFP
Following the call with Trump, Zelenskiy said that Kyiv was “ready” to pause attacks on Russia’s energy network and infrastructure, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to halt similar strikes on Ukraine.
Zelenskiy also said he had discussed Trump’s power plant takeover plan.
“We talked only about one power plant, which is under Russian occupation,” Zelenskiy, 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.
However, a wider ceasefire remains elusive with Putin saying in his own call with Trump on Tuesday that the West must first stop all military aid for Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have said they are willing to put British and French troops on the ground in Ukraine.
The White House described the Zelenskiy call as “fantastic.”
Trump “discussed Ukraine’s electrical supply and nuclear power plants” and said Washington could be “very helpful” in running them,” US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a joint statement. “American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure.”
Trump also pledged to help Kyiv get more air defense equipment from Europe, and to find Ukrainian children “abducted” by Russia, the statement said.
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