Ukrainian foreign ministry: the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is a part of Ukraine. We will never agree to legalize its Russian occupation

Ukrainian foreign ministry: the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is a part of Ukraine. We will never agree to legalize its Russian occupation

Moscow has expressed a willingness to engage in "three-way cooperation" with the U.S. and Ukraine regarding the management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin [1]. This statement, made during a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing, represents a potential shift from Moscow's previous stance on the plant's oversight.

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, located in Enerhodar, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, has been under Russian occupation since 2022. While the facility remains under Russian control, it is not currently generating electricity. The plant, the largest in Europe, has been a contentious issue in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

U.S. President Donald Trump has previously suggested that the U.S. could operate and potentially own the nuclear power plant to ensure its protection. A similar proposal, reported by Reuters in April, envisioned Ukraine regaining control of the plant under U.S. administration, with electricity distributed to both Ukraine and Russia [2].

However, Russia's Foreign Ministry has maintained that the plant is a "Russian facility" and cannot be transferred to Ukraine or any other country. In 2022, Moscow illegally annexed Zaporizhzhia Oblast and three other Ukrainian regions, despite not controlling them fully [1].

Ukraine's foreign ministry has categorically stated that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is a part of Ukraine and that they will never agree to legalize its Russian occupation. The plant's status remains a critical issue in the broader conflict, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of using the facility as part of nuclear blackmail tactics [1].

While Putin's statement suggests a potential change in Moscow's approach, it is unclear whether this represents an actual shift in policy. The Kremlin has a history of retracting pledges and pursuing maximalist goals in its dealings with Ukraine [1].

References:
[1] https://kyivindependent.com/russia-open-to-cooperating-with-ukraine-us-at-occupied-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-putin-claims/
[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/us-proposal-envision-ukraine-regaining-control-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-under-us-administration-2023-04-25/