Ukraine: Trump Proposes U.S. Control of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant, Zelensky Confirms

Kyiv, March 19, 2025, 3:30 PM PDT – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated Wednesday that he discussed with U.S. President Donald Trump the possibility of American control over a single Ukrainian nuclear power plant—specifically the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia facility—during a recent phone call. This revelation, made during a press briefing, marks a significant escalation in U.S. involvement in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, as reported by Reuters and shared on X by @ZelenskyyUa.

Details of the Discussion

Zelensky clarified, “We spoke only about one plant, which is under Russian occupation,” referring to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, seized by Russia in March 2022 early in its invasion of Ukraine. According to a White House statement and posts on X by @WHNSC, Trump suggested the U.S. could “take possession” of Ukrainian nuclear facilities, though Zelensky emphasized the focus was solely on Zaporizhzhia, per The New York Times.

The conversation, confirmed by both Kyiv and Washington, occurred amid Trump’s broader push for a peace deal, following his March 17, 2025, agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a 30-day truce targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure, as reported separately. Posts on X, like @UkraineNews24’s, speculate Trump’s proposal aims to secure U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical minerals, which require significant energy—potentially from Zaporizhzhia—to process, per a March 18 CNN analysis.

Context of Zaporizhzhia

Located in southern Ukraine, the Zaporizhzhia plant has been a flashpoint since Russia’s invasion, with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, IAEA, repeatedly warning of safety risks, as noted in a March 2025 UN News update. Russia controls the facility, which was shut down in 2022 but remains a potential energy source, per The New York Times. Ukraine and the U.S. have accused Russia of militarizing the site, while Moscow claims it ensures its safety, per Tass.

Web results, including Wikipedia’s entry on the plant, detail its six reactors and strategic importance, with Kyiv arguing U.S. involvement could stabilize the region and counter Russian influence. Trump’s proposal aligns with his January 2025 executive order to end the Ukraine war, potentially leveraging Zaporizhzhia as a bargaining chip, per Politico.

Zelensky’s Reaction and Concerns

Zelensky, in his press briefing, expressed cautious openness but stressed the need for guarantees to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty, as shared on X by @ZelenskyyUa. Kyiv fears U.S. control could undermine its territorial integrity, especially after Trump’s hints at territorial concessions to Russia, per The Washington Post. Posts on X, like @UkraineSolidarity’s, criticized the proposal as a “betrayal,” while @Trump2025News defended it as “pragmatic diplomacy.”

U.S. and Russian Positions

The White House, via @WHNSC, clarified Trump’s intent to secure peace and access to Ukrainian resources, with Zaporizhzhia’s energy capacity critical for mineral extraction, as detailed in a March 18 NYT article. Russia, through @KremlinRussia_E, dismissed the idea, accusing the U.S. of interference, per Interfax. Putin’s March 17 truce agreement with Trump suggests possible flexibility, but Moscow insists on retaining Zaporizhzhia, per Tass.

Regional and Global Implications

The proposal could reshape the Ukraine conflict, with NATO and EU leaders, via X posts by @NATOpress and @EU_Commission, urging caution to avoid escalating tensions. Ukraine’s mineral wealth—lithium, uranium, and titanium—has drawn U.S. interest, per a 2024 Carnegie Endowment report, but Russia’s control of Zaporizhzhia complicates negotiations, as noted in Defense News.

As of 3:30 PM PDT, no formal agreement has been reached, with Zelensky awaiting further U.S. details. The move could either advance peace or deepen divisions, with posts on X like @GeoPoliticsNow debating its strategic merit.