Trump team considering neutral zone around Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant - WSJ
Photo: neutral zone to be under US control (Getty Images)
The US, as part of discussions on ending the war in Ukraine, is considering the idea of creating a neutral zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The article outlines proposals presented to Kyiv last week in Paris to end the war. While some of these points have been reported by other outlets, The Wall Street Journal has learned of another idea under consideration by US President Donald Trump's team.
According to Western officials, Washington is considering designating the area around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) as a neutral zone, potentially to be placed under US control.
Earlier in March, Trump reportedly raised the idea in a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggesting that the US could purchase Ukrainian power plants, including nuclear facilities, calling it “the best protection for that infrastructure.”
WSJ also reports that the ZNPP would likely supply electricity both to Ukrainian-controlled territory and to the occupied regions that Russia has held since 2022.
Ukraine seeks to regain control of ZNPP
Less than a week ago, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko stated that Ukraine is interested in jointly controlling the Zaporizhzhia NPP with the United States.
“It [ZNPP] could offer new opportunities for cooperation between us, for instance, in terms of electricity exports. In addition, we’ll need more electricity for any project that may be implemented in Ukraine with the United States. We need more power for large-scale reconstruction, and that’s very important,” he said.
A month earlier, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that it considers the Zaporizhzhia NPP to be a Russian nuclear facility and, therefore, will not transfer it to any other state.
