Russia wants to keep control of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, US proposes joint management - Zelenskyy
Photo: ZNPP (Getty Images)
During discussions with partners and in proposals submitted to the Russian side, there are two fundamentally unresolved issues: the situation in the Donetsk region and the future of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), stated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy while speaking with journalists on December 11.
Russia refuses to leave the Donetsk region and insists on controlling ZNPP
According to Zelenskyy, the document under discussion proposes the withdrawal of Russian troops from parts of the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. However, regarding Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions, the Russians stated that they "stand where they stand" and have no plans to retreat.
Separately, the Russian side insists on retaining control over the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Ukraine is categorically against this, Zelenskyy emphasized.
"We have clearly stated: if Russia keeps the plant for itself, it will not operate," he stressed.
Possible format for ZNPP management
Zelenskyy also spoke about the proposals being discussed for the plant's future. According to him, the US is suggesting a joint management model for ZNPP—some kind of international format or consortium.
Ukraine, however, insists on the following approach:
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Russian troops must fully withdraw from the plant and the surrounding territory;
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A demilitarized zone must be established;
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After that, Ukrainian specialists could access the plant and work with partners to find a management model.
"For us, ZNPP is ours, while the Russians believe that if they occupied it, it is theirs. If the Americans can take over the plant, then it’s clear what their share means - it’s their influence, their money, and ours is ours. So at the moment, what kind of consortium could manage the plant, how to implement it, how to restart operations, how to manage it - that’s hard to say. All of this is under discussion," Zelenskyy said.
Occupation of ZNPP
Russian troops seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in early March 2022. The plant has periodically been disconnected from backup power supplies.
On September 23, Energoatom reported the tenth full blackout at ZNPP since the start of the full-scale war.
The company stated that Russia deliberately did not reconnect the plant to Ukraine's power grid. At the same time, the only external transmission line linking ZNPP to Ukrainian networks went out of service.
As a result, the nuclear plant was forced to switch to emergency power from diesel generators.
On October 6, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) personnel recorded a series of shots near ZNPP, 1.25 km from the plant's perimeter. After ZNPP was disconnected from external power sources, a serious nuclear safety situation remained at the plant.
Finally, on October 23, power at ZNPP was restored, ending the plant's tenth blackout, which lasted about a month.
For more on the potential for a nuclear disaster at ZNPP and the role of the IAEA, see the material by RBC-Ukraine.
