Russia has made it clear: it will not return control of Europe’s largest nuclear power plant to Ukraine—or to anyone else.
In a firm statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) is now permanently part of Russia’s nuclear industry and won’t be transferred to Ukraine or any other country. The ministry also ruled out any joint operation of the plant.
“The station’s return to the Russian nuclear industry is a long-overdue fact that the international community can only recognize. The transfer of ZNPP itself or control over it to Ukraine or any other country is impossible,” Moscow stated Tuesday night.
A Key Energy Asset Under Russian Control
ZNPP, located in the Russian-occupied city of Enerhodar in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, was once a crucial part of Ukraine’s power grid. Before the war, it generated six gigawatts of electricity, meeting 20% of Ukraine’s energy needs. However, the plant has been out of operation since March 2022, when Russian forces took control, forcibly dispersing local resistance.
Despite international condemnation, Russia claims ownership of the plant following controversial referendums in 2022, which were widely dismissed as illegitimate by Ukraine and Western nations. Russian President Vladimir Putin officially declared the plant Russian property through a special decree, asserting that it now belongs to Russia under “international law.”
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U.S. Interest and Ukraine’s Position
Last week, POLITICO reported that former U.S. President Donald Trump sees ZNPP as a potential energy source for a proposed minerals mining deal with Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insists the plant remains Ukrainian state property but has expressed willingness to cooperate with the U.S. to restore the facility—if Ukraine regains control over Enerhodar.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has reportedly engaged in discussions with Russia about the future of the plant, though no agreements have been reached.
Russia’s Stance on International Involvement
Russia has also rejected any Western involvement at the plant, citing security concerns. “Close cooperation between NATO countries and Ukraine in sabotage operations makes it impossible for representatives of these states to have even temporary access to ZNPP,” the Russian foreign ministry stated, suggesting that any peace talks must include cutting Ukraine off from Western intelligence and military support.
With no resolution in sight, the future of ZNPP remains a flashpoint in the ongoing conflict, raising concerns about nuclear safety, energy security, and the broader geopolitical struggle between Russia, Ukraine, and the West.
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