Zelensky Says He Spoke To Trump About Only One Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plant - Zaporizhzhia NPP

The White House claims that they were talking about American ownership of the entire network of power plants.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an online briefing on 19 March, the recording of which was released by the Office of the President, that he had spoken to US President Donald Trump about the possibility of restoring the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian occupation.

‘There was a question regarding the nuclear plant,’ he said, commenting on the White House's statement on the likely ownership of the nuclear plant by the states. ‘This matter did not concern the network of nuclear power plants. The matter was solely about a plant that is under temporary occupation today, and it is, as you know, in danger because of Russia's weapons power there. And it's not operating because Russia is holding it absolutely illegally.’

When it came to the question of whether Ukraine could restore it, Zelensky, according to his words, told Trump that it's not enough to de-occupy the station.

‘I said that it is not enough just to de-occupy the station, because there has to be a proper infrastructure there - water supply, technical staff and many more steps to ensure that in one and a half - two - two and a half years the station starts to bring money, to bring what it should bring - electricity for people. That's my vision. And the president asked: ‘What if there is a realisation that America can rebuild this?’ I told him: ‘Yes, if it can be modernised, invested in, etc. - we're willing to discuss it with you.’ But we were talking exclusively about one station, which is under temporary occupation,’ Zelensky said.

Answering a question about the likelihood that the aggressor country will hand over the ZNPP to Ukraine, the Ukrainian president said that there are no negotiations about it now.

‘There are no any negotiations. If there were negotiations, I would tell you. It is important for us. I believe that the station will not work under occupation. I believe that the station can be restored - it is a fact. I said frankly that it will take somewhere around two years on average, maybe two and a half. That is what nuclear specialists say,’ he explained.

According to Zelensky, the ZNPP is necessary for Ukrainian people, as well as for Europe and for joining the European power grid. However, the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam by the occupiers had a negative impact on the Zaporizhzhia NPP, because water from the Kakhovka reservoir filled the cooling pond of the ZNPP.

‘The fact that they blew up the dam had a serious impact. And it technically maximised the destruction of this plant. There is no water, these are big problems. It won't work that way. You know, well, that's not right at all. So just to give the station to someone, to someone - to whom? And if it's a station and we want it to work, to be safe, Ukrainians should come to it. Not only because it is ours, it is our land, and it is our station,’ the president said.

He explained that the station needs to be restored so that it is technically safe for the world.

‘That's why [Ukrainians should come to it]. Just to give the station away - and everything is occupied there a metre away from the station, there are Russian weapons - no one will work like that, no one will believe in it. Because it's impossible. It means that tomorrow it will work, the day after tomorrow the Russians will blow it up. Well, that is, it's not serious. So far, it's just general stuff. We started talking about it with the President. All the conversations, when we want to restore something, when we want it to start working - I think these are all positive steps. I am not sure that we will get the result, but I am sure that these are positive steps,’ Zelensky added.

Earlier, on 19 March, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement by US President Donald Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a briefing about the conversation between the White House head and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

She said Trump and Zelensky discussed electricity and Ukrainian nuclear power plants.

‘He [Trump] said that the United States could be very helpful in managing these plants due to its expertise in electricity and utilities. American ownership of these plants would be the best protection for this infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure,’ the statement claimed.

You can support the website Charter97.org

MULTI-CURRENCY ACCOUNT FOR ASSISTANCE:

Bank's name: Bank Millennium S.A.
Address: ul. Stanislawa Zaryna, 2A, 02-593, Warszawa
IBAN: PL97116022020000000216711123
SWIFT: BIGBPLPW
Name of the account holder: Fundacja “KARTA ‘97”
Purpose/title of payment: Donation for statuary aims

You can contact us by the e-mail charter97@gmail.com