Ukraine proposes joint operation of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant with US, Zelenskyy says
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Getty Images)
The issue of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant remains one of the most challenging points of the US peace plan regarding Ukraine. The parties are currently seeking a compromise, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a meeting with journalists.
As the president said, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is the 12th point of the draft peace plan. The US proposal is that the Zaporizhzhia NPP would be operated jointly by three countries — Ukraine, the United States, and Russia.
"The Russians believe that they will still make it so that they operate the Zaporizhzhia NPP. They will tie the operation of this plant to the humanitarian aspect. They will say. Let's restore the dam, let's supply electricity. That is why partners say they want a joint management mechanism," Zelenskyy explained.
According to him, Ukraine's compromise position is that the Zaporizhzhia NPP would be operated by a joint venture comprising the United States and Ukraine on a 50–50 basis.
"Fifty percent of the electricity produced goes to Ukraine, and as for the other 50 percent, the United States independently determines its distribution," the president clarified.
He added that it is necessary to demilitarize the plant's territory, as well as Enerhodar and the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant.
"There were about 15 hours of talks about the plant. These are all very complex issues," Zelenskyy noted.
Situation at Zaporizhzhia NPP
Recall that Russia's occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has continued since March 2022. Russians constantly create a nuclear threat there.
Russian forces deploy equipment and personnel on the plant's territory, carry out shelling that causes power outages, ignore nuclear safety rules, and attempt to connect the plant to the Russian energy grid.
They also stage shelling, force staff to work under contracts, and this situation compels Energoatom to appeal to the international community to increase pressure on Russia to prevent a nuclear catastrophe.
Within the framework of a peace agreement, the United States proposes that Ukraine, Russia, and the US jointly manage the Zaporizhzhia NPP. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy considers this option unfair.
On November 19 this year, Ukrainian energy workers restored power supply to the temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia NPP, which had been without electricity for a long time due to damage to a high-voltage line caused by Russian shelling.
Earlier, on September 23, Energoatom reported the plant's tenth complete blackout since the start of the full-scale war.
Russian forces deliberately did not connect the Zaporizhzhia NPP to Ukraine's power system, and the only external power line that would have ensured the plant's connection to Ukraine's grid failed. The blackout lasted a month.
And on December 6, the Zaporizhzhia NPP temporarily lost power from external sources.
Currently, the Zaporizhzhia NPP receives electricity only through one of its two external power lines.
