President Trump wants the US to own Ukraine's nuclear power plants

The White House said President Donald Trump discussed Ukraine's electricity supply and nuclear power plants, saying the US could be "very helpful in running" the facilities.

AFP news agency on March 20 quoted US President Donald Trump as telling his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky that the US could own and operate Ukraine's nuclear power plants, in his latest effort to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine.

After a phone call with Trump on March 19, Zelensky said Ukraine was “ready” to halt attacks on Russia’s energy grid and infrastructure, a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to halt similar attacks on Ukraine.

President Trump wants the US to own Ukraine's nuclear power plants

Mr. Zelensky also announced that Mr. Trump had discussed plans to take over the nuclear power plant.

“We are only talking about a power plant that is controlled by Russia,” Mr Zelensky said in a virtual press conference, referring to the plant in Zaporizhzhia. He added that he “did not feel any pressure” from Mr Trump to make concessions to Russia.

Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant

Mr Trump appeared much more positive after his phone call with Mr Zelensky. The White House described the call as "excellent".

President Trump "discussed Ukraine's electricity supply, nuclear power plants" and said Washington could "be of great help" in operating them, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a joint statement.

“US ownership of the plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure,” the statement said.

Trump-Putin phone call: Russia stops attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities

In addition, the statement said Mr. Trump also pledged to help Kyiv receive more air defense equipment from Europe and search for Ukrainian children "kidnapped" by Russia.

The US president earlier wrote on his Truth Social social network that efforts to achieve a full ceasefire were "on track".

Mr Zelensky said Ukrainian and US officials could meet in the coming days for talks again in Saudi Arabia, where Russian and US teams are also scheduled to meet early next week.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tong-thong-trump-muon-my-so-huu-cac-nha-may-dien-hat-nhan-ukraine-185250320094024617.htm