US ownership of nuclear power plants was not under discussion, the Ukrainian leader has claimed
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has denied any discussion with US President Donald Trump regarding American ownership of nuclear power plants in his country. Zelensky insisted that a recent conversation involved investment in one particular facility.
In a phone call on Wednesday, the two leaders addressed “Ukraine’s electrical supply and nuclear power plants,” according to the US account of the dialogue. Trump suggested that America “could be very helpful in running those plants” and proposed that US ownership would provide “the best protection for that infrastructure.”
When asked about the call at a press conference, Zelensky insisted that he had not offered the US the opportunity to acquire the facilities. He stated that the conversation focused specifically on the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant and the possibility of US investment in it.
The plant is operated by Russian nuclear experts and is located in Zaporozhye Region, which officially joined Russia following a referendum in the autumn of 2022. Kiev has refused to recognize the results of the vote. Zelensky asserted on Wednesday that, should the plant be returned to Ukrainian control – a scenario Moscow does not foresee – it could become a profitable asset within 12 to 18 months.
”The president [Trump] asked: ‘What if we have an understanding that America would rebuild it?’ I replied, ‘If you want to upgrade it and invest money, we can discuss that with you.’ But our conversation was limited to this single station,” Zelensky stressed.
READ MORE: ‘No problem’ for US to take over Ukrainian nuclear plants – energy secretary
The reason for the conflicting accounts surrounding the Trump-Zelensky conversation remains unclear.
Previous reports have indicated that Zelensky struggles with communication with Western officials. The German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said last October that the Ukrainian leader prefers speaking in English – despite his limited fluency – and declines the use of an interpreter.
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