US Ready to Lead Ukrainian NPP – Energy Minister

US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright announced this in an interview with Bloomberg, as reported by Ukrinform.

“We will work with local experts and bring in highly qualified nuclear experts from the United States, and together we will make informed decisions,” Wright said.

“America has significant experience in this area,” he added.

At the same time, Wright emphasized that there are currently no negotiations underway on the purchase by American companies of facilities such as the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), which has been under Russian control since the beginning of the war.

Read also: Zelensky said he discussed the restoration of the Zaporizhia NPP with Trump

This week, the presidents of Ukraine and the United States discussed the ceasefire, Donald Trump's conversation with Vladimir Putin, the situation in the Kursk region, upcoming meetings of technical groups, and the exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine.

President Trump also proposed transferring ownership of Ukrainian power plants to the United States to ensure better protection.

President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that during the telephone conversation with Trump, the issue was about restoring the Zaporizhzhya NPP capacities. He emphasized that simply lifting the occupation of the plant would not be enough. According to him, Trump expressed interest in the potential participation of the United States in the modernization of Zaporizhzhya NPP.

The Zaporizhzhya NPP has been under Russian occupation since March 4, 2022. In September of that year, the plant completely stopped generating electricity. Russian military personnel and equipment are still on the site.

As a result of shelling, the external power lines of the Zaporizhzhya NPP have been repeatedly damaged. In June 2023, Russian troops destroyed the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station, which led to a breakthrough of the Kakhovka reservoir. As a result, the plant now has only a limited supply of water for irrigation, which is sufficient only in emergency shutdown mode.