Kyiv:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Wednesday that he and US President Donald Trump discussed the potential for the United States to take ownership of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.
Zelensky made these comments during a briefing in Finland, where he was on an official visit, following Trump’s proposal that the US could operate Ukraine’s nuclear power plants as part of efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Russia’s invasion.
“We specifically talked about the power plant that is currently under Russian control,” Zelensky stated, referring to the Zaporizhzhia plant.
The Zaporizhzhia power plant, which is the largest in Europe, was seized by Russian forces early in the invasion that began in February 2022 and has since been a source of concerns regarding a potential nuclear incident.
Zelensky mentioned that it could take over two years to restore the plant to operational status, emphasizing the importance of its electricity generation capacity for both Ukraine and Europe.
“Is it necessary? Absolutely, for the people and for Europe as well. Connecting to the European power grid is crucial. We can achieve all of this,” he asserted.
– Absence of ‘pressure’ from Trump –
Since assuming office in January, Trump has been actively seeking a resolution to the ongoing conflict between Russian forces and Ukraine, which has lasted over three years.
Last week, Zelensky endorsed a US-led initiative for a complete ceasefire in Ukraine, but Russia rejected it and proposed a cessation of strikes on energy infrastructure instead.
During the briefing in Finland, Zelensky expressed skepticism that Russian President Putin would agree to a ceasefire while Ukrainian troops were engaged in combat for control of Russia’s Kursk region, where Kyiv launched an offensive last year that has faced challenges.
“Putin is not inclined to agree to a ceasefire while our troops are in the Kursk region,” Zelensky remarked.
Russian forces have been making steady progress in the Kursk region, undermining Kyiv’s hopes of using it as a negotiation tool in talks with Moscow.
The rapid engagement of the Trump administration with Russian officials, a departure from the previous administration’s approach, has raised concerns in Ukraine about potential concessions being made, such as territorial compromises with Russia.
However, Zelensky clarified that Trump did not exert any pressure on Ukraine to yield to Russian demands.
“I want to be completely honest. Today, I did not feel any pressure from Trump. There was none. And that is a fact. I am transparent. If there was, I would have openly acknowledged it,” he affirmed.
These remarks come after a tense encounter between the two leaders at the White House, which resulted in the Ukrainian delegation, including Zelensky, departing ahead of schedule.
– Conversation with Macron –
During the press briefing, Zelensky mentioned that he regularly communicates with French President Emmanuel Macron, who unexpectedly called him during the conference.
“Yes, I just spoke with President Macron, Emmanuel,” Zelensky shared after receiving a phone call. “We have frequent conversations, usually daily. I will return his call after our discussion.”
Zelensky also revealed plans to visit France the following week, without providing further details.
The Ukrainian leader has been urging Western allies to increase assistance, even in the event of a ceasefire, and announced that Ukraine recently acquired “several” additional F-16 fighter jets.
“I will not disclose the exact number,” Zelensky informed reporters, refraining from specifying the country that delivered the aircraft. Ukraine received its initial batch of US-manufactured F-16 jets last year.
(This article has been sourced from a syndicated feed and has been published without any alterations by NDTV, except for the headline.)
