In a surprising development in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, former President Donald Trump proposed a new energy cooperation deal with Ukraine, which could include U.S. control over the country’s nuclear power plants. This came during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday.
The conversation centered on enhancing Ukraine’s energy security, particularly its nuclear power infrastructure, amid the broader geopolitical context of the war with Russia. A joint statement released by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Michael Waltz elaborated on the unexpected offer.
“President Trump also discussed Ukraine’s electrical supply and nuclear power plants,” the statement read. “He said that the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise. American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure.”
This nuclear proposition was positioned as a strategic move to safeguard Ukraine’s energy infrastructure while providing a potential framework for the U.S. to help manage and operate critical facilities in the war-torn country.
The issue of energy resources, including the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant—currently occupied by Russian forces—has been central to Ukraine’s ability to fuel its war efforts, including the extraction of rare minerals. Trump’s suggestion ties into his previously discussed plan to leverage Ukraine’s mineral wealth for U.S. economic interests, with promises of security and infrastructure improvements in exchange for U.S. involvement.
While White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was questioned about the status of the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, she confirmed the negotiations had shifted focus. “We have moved beyond the economic minerals deal. We’re at a place of peace. We’re at a partial ceasefire, and we’re moving towards a full ceasefire and a long-standing peace in this conflict,” Leavitt said, signaling a new phase in the discussions.
This move was seen as part of a broader peace initiative, which Trump also discussed during a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to the U.S. government readout, Trump and Putin agreed to a partial ceasefire focused on energy infrastructure, setting the stage for further discussions to expand the ceasefire to the Black Sea.
“Technical teams will meet in Saudi Arabia in the coming days to discuss broadening the ceasefire,” the statement said. “They agreed this could be the first step toward the full end of the war and ensuring security.”
In addition to nuclear power, Trump raised concerns about the plight of Ukrainian children abducted during the war, a topic Zelensky has highlighted in past meetings. Trump pledged to work with both Ukrainian and Russian authorities to secure the return of these children.
The phone call also drew attention to ongoing controversies in the U.S. regarding the termination of a contract with Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab, which tracked abducted children using satellite imagery and biometric data. Pressed on the issue, Leavitt offered no updates but did not rule out future investigations into the matter.
As talks between Trump, Zelensky, and Putin continue, the world watches closely to see whether these dramatic shifts in policy could pave the way for a resolution to the devastating conflict.