Trump's new deal? Why US needs control over Ukraine's nuclear power plant and is it possible

Contents

• ZNPP for US: Where the idea came from

• Can US take over all of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants

• Three conditions for a deal

The United States has proposed that Ukraine consider transferring the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant under Washington’s control. Without going into details, White House officials have indicated that such an option might be acceptable to Russia in negotiations on ending the war. However, this is unlikely to be feasible if Russia remains in the occupied city of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has explicitly stated.

Comments on possible US involvement in restoring the plant have not been provided by either the Ukrainian government or Energoatom. According to RBC-Ukraine sources, this issue has not yet been worked out in any unilateral or bilateral format.

"I have the impression that this was an impromptu suggestion from the US," said one interlocutor. Zelenskyy also confirmed that no negotiations on transferring nuclear power plants to the US had taken place. "If there were negotiations, I would tell you," the head of state noted.

ZNPP for US: Where the idea came from

During a phone call with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump raised the possibility of helping to operate Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. The best option, according to White House Press Secretary Caroline Leavitt, could be “American ownership of the facilities.”

"American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for the Ukrainian energy infrastructure," Leavitt added.

Sources familiar with the situation told the media that the issue of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) had previously been discussed in US-Russia negotiations. The US allegedly proposed returning the plant to Ukraine along with a 20-kilometer demilitarized zone, but Russia refused. Washington then considered taking the station under US management or ownership as a bargaining tool in negotiations with Moscow.

According to Reuters, the US has a plan under which Russia would be forced to withdraw its troops from the occupied plant, placing it under American control. Moreover, Russia would have to relinquish control over the occupied territories, including the city of Enerhodar, to ensure the plant’s operation.

At this point, based on Leavitt’s statement, the US is not only discussing Zaporizhzhia NPP but also all nuclear power plants in Ukraine. Apart from the closed Chornobyl facility, Ukraine has four nuclear power plants: Zaporizhzhia, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, and South Ukraine NPP. However, in his conversation with Zelenskyy, President Trump specifically focused on Zaporizhzhia NPP.

Trump reportedly asked whether Ukraine would accept US involvement in restoring the Zaporizhzhia plant. Zelenskyy confirmed that such assistance is welcome, but only under specific conditions.

"Yes, modernization and investment are possible. I said we are ready to discuss this with you, but the issue concerns only one plant that is temporarily occupied by Russia," Zelenskyy stated.

Can the US take over all of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants

Ukraine is unlikely to agree to transfer all of its nuclear power plants to US control, according to a source familiar with the Ukrainian government's preliminary assessment of US proposals. Later, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that such a scenario would not happen.

"All nuclear power plants belong to the people of Ukraine. These are state-owned nuclear power plants. We do not have private ownership in this area. And the one in occupied Zaporizhzhia region, in the city of Enerhodar (Zaporizhzhia NPP), also belongs to the Ukrainian state," Zelenskyy stated on March 20.

He added that the Zaporizhzhia NPP would not operate under anyone’s control unless it remains Ukrainian. "IIf they want to invest, to modernize it — that's a different matter. That’s an open question, and we can discuss it. But we have not discussed the issue of ownership with President Trump," the Ukrainian president emphasized.

Transferring nuclear power plants — facilities that generate most of the country's electricity and serve as a key energy source — into foreign ownership or even management carries significant risks.

First and foremost, these risks involve ensuring the country’s electricity supply at reasonable prices. If nuclear plants were no longer state-owned, maintaining energy affordability would become nearly impossible. The second issue is the ability to manage these facilities in real-time during emergencies, particularly during wartime. The third major concern is that losing state control over the nuclear sector poses considerable security risks.

As for Zaporizhzhia NPP specifically, the United States could theoretically take on its restoration. The plant has been under Russian control for the fourth consecutive year, and restarting operations would require substantial financial and technical resources. At least two years would be needed to make the plant operational. Under an optimistic scenario, two of its reactors could be prepared for relaunch within this timeframe.

"This is important for us. I believe that the plant will not operate while under occupation. I also believe that the plant can be restored—this is a fact. I have openly stated that it would take about two years on average, maybe two and a half. That is the estimate provided by nuclear specialists," Zelenskyy told journalists.

He stressed that the Zaporizhzhia NPP is essential for Ukraine, its people, and Europe, as it plays a critical role in integrating with the European power grid. However, the occupation has created serious challenges for its operation.

ZNPP has been under Russian control for four years (photo: Getty Images)

The United States, however, remains persistent in pushing for control over Zaporizhzhia NPP. The US Department of Energy has already confirmed that it is willing to manage Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.

Additionally, as reported by Politico, the US wants to include Zaporizhzhia NPP in an agreement on mineral resources. The extraction of these minerals requires a significant amount of electricity, which the plant could provide.

Three conditions for a deal

Energy experts currently see neither a practical reason nor a viable opportunity for transferring the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) to the United States. However, if a mechanism acceptable to both Ukraine and the US can be established, such a scenario could be beneficial.

"If a mechanism is developed, it will be the only way to return the plant to Ukraine’s energy system intact and operational. Otherwise, the Russians will do everything possible to render it unusable," said Gennadii Riabtsev, Director of the Psychea Research Center, in a comment to RBC-Ukraine.

He noted that Russia has no economic incentive to use the ZNPP. To integrate it into its power system, Russia would have to build additional power transmission lines, as the plant was originally constructed to supply electricity to the right bank of the Dnipro River. Even if Russia attempts to connect it to its grid, Ukraine is unlikely to allow this, given its significant military capabilities.

Volodymyr Omelchenko, Director of Energy Programs at the Razumkov Center, believes the US proposal could be considered under certain conditions. The first condition is that the ZNPP must be under Ukraine’s full legal and factual control.

Currently, nuclear energy facilities in Ukraine cannot be privatized by law, and removing them from state ownership would require legislative changes.

Representatives of US companies or members of the US government could be included in the supervisory board of the operator managing the ZNPP.

The second condition is that all Russian forces must withdraw from the plant and the surrounding areas.

The third condition is that the ZNPP must not be allowed to supply electricity to Russian-occupied territories.