trump-wants-ukraine-s-energy-infrastructure-under-us-control

Donald Trump has asked Volodymyr Zelensky that the United States could own and run Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including nuclear power plants, as part of his latest bid to secure a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war.

 

The Ukrainian president said following their call that Kiev was "ready" to pause attacks on Russia's energy network and infrastructure, a day after Vladimir Putin agreed to halt similar strikes on Ukraine.

 

Zelensky also said he had discussed Trump’s power plant takeover plan: "We talked only about one power plant, which is under Russian occupation," Zelensky, who was on an official visit to Finland, said during an online briefing, referring to the plant in Zaporizhzhia.

 

He said that he had “not felt any pressure” from Trump to make concessions to Russia. However, a wider ceasefire remains elusive, with the Kremlin leader insisting in his call with Trump on Tuesday that the West first stop all military aid for Ukraine.”

 

Trump "discussed Ukraine's electrical supply and nuclear power plants" and said Washington could be "very helpful" in running them," National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a joint statement.

 

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"American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure," it said.

 

Trump also reiterated the need to help Kiev get more air defence equipment from Europe, and to find Ukrainian children "abducted" by Russia, the statement said.

 

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

 

Ukraine's defence ministry said an overnight barrage of Russian missiles and drones struck the war-battered nation, killing one person and damaging two hospitals.

 

Putin insisted during his call with Trump on Tuesday that a full ceasefire was only possible if the West agrees to Moscow's long-standing demand to halt its billions of dollars in military aid for Ukraine.