Trump pushes plan to take over Ukraine’s nuclear plants as ceasefire talks renew

As top U.S. officials gear up for a crucial meeting with a Russian delegation in Saudi Arabia, the focus is on how the Trump administration will work to extend a preliminary ceasefire in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently agreed to temporarily halt strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz are set to travel to Jeddah for the negotiations, with the goal of securing a ceasefire over the Black Sea.

The upcoming negotiations come after Moscow had previously agreed to a similar deal in 2022, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which aimed to control global prices of Ukrainian agricultural exports. However, Putin pulled out of the agreement in 2023, leaving security experts skeptical of his intentions this time around.

One key issue that is expected to be on the negotiating table is Ukraine’s nuclear power. President Trump has shown interest in a new business venture involving U.S. “ownership” of Kyiv’s electrical supply and nuclear power plants. Rubio and Waltz believe that American ownership of these plants would provide the best protection for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

However, experts like Rebekah Koffler, a former DIA intelligence officer, are skeptical of Putin’s response to Trump’s ambitions. Koffler believes that Putin is unlikely to support the idea and may even attempt to sabotage such a deal. She also doubts that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would agree to cede control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to the U.S.

Former CIA Moscow station chief Dan Hoffman also questions the impact of U.S. ownership of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on securing peace. He believes that there are more pressing issues at hand and that Putin’s ultimate goal is to topple the Ukrainian government and gain maximum advantage for Russia.

While the negotiations are expected to cover a range of issues, including a ceasefire, the key to ending the war in Ukraine lies in Putin’s genuine desire for peace. Hoffman argues that history shows wars typically end on the battlefield, with one side emerging victorious or both sides running out of resources to continue fighting.

As the meeting in Saudi Arabia approaches, all eyes will be on how the U.S. officials navigate the complex dynamics of the conflict in Ukraine and work towards a sustainable ceasefire that can bring an end to the bloodshed and suffering in the region.