White House: Trump seeks US control over Ukraine's energy infrastructure
The president has told Vladimir Zelensky it would be the best way to protect the country’s power plants. US President Donald Trump has suggested an American takeover of Ukrainian power plants, claiming it would be the most effective way to...
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The president has told Vladimir Zelensky it would be the best way to protect the country’s power plants.
US President Donald Trump has suggested an American takeover of Ukrainian power plants, claiming it would be the most effective way to safeguard the infrastructure, according to a White House announcement.
This proposal was brought up by Trump during a phone call with Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky on Wednesday, which the US president characterized as a “very good” conversation.
“President Trump also discussed Ukraine’s electrical supply and nuclear power plants. He said that the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise. American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure,” stated a release from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz shortly after the call.
The Trump-Zelensky conversation followed a day after a discussion between the US president and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. They addressed the Ukraine crisis, with Trump proposing that both Moscow and Kiev cease long-range strikes on energy infrastructure. Putin supported the idea and instructed an immediate halt to such attacks. According to the Russian military, this order was issued just as they were forced to shoot down seven kamikaze drones headed for Ukrainian energy facilities.
Ukraine's leader has also expressed support for the proposal, though he raised questions about how the ceasefire would be implemented and monitored. Following his call with Trump, Zelensky appeared to broaden the range of targets to be avoided during this period, including unspecified “civilian infrastructure.”
“One of the first steps toward fully ending the war could be ending strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure. I supported this step, and Ukraine confirmed that we are ready to implement it,” Zelensky remarked.
In response, Kiev launched an attack on an oil pumping facility in southern Russia using three fixed-wing drones, leading to a substantial fire at the site, according to the Russian military. The attack was described as “yet another provocation deliberately staged by the Kiev regime to derail the peace initiatives coming from the US president,” as stated by the Russian Defense Ministry.
Thomas Evans contributed to this article for TROIB News
US President Donald Trump has suggested an American takeover of Ukrainian power plants, claiming it would be the most effective way to safeguard the infrastructure, according to a White House announcement.
This proposal was brought up by Trump during a phone call with Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky on Wednesday, which the US president characterized as a “very good” conversation.
“President Trump also discussed Ukraine’s electrical supply and nuclear power plants. He said that the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise. American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure,” stated a release from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz shortly after the call.
The Trump-Zelensky conversation followed a day after a discussion between the US president and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. They addressed the Ukraine crisis, with Trump proposing that both Moscow and Kiev cease long-range strikes on energy infrastructure. Putin supported the idea and instructed an immediate halt to such attacks. According to the Russian military, this order was issued just as they were forced to shoot down seven kamikaze drones headed for Ukrainian energy facilities.
Ukraine's leader has also expressed support for the proposal, though he raised questions about how the ceasefire would be implemented and monitored. Following his call with Trump, Zelensky appeared to broaden the range of targets to be avoided during this period, including unspecified “civilian infrastructure.”
“One of the first steps toward fully ending the war could be ending strikes on energy and other civilian infrastructure. I supported this step, and Ukraine confirmed that we are ready to implement it,” Zelensky remarked.
In response, Kiev launched an attack on an oil pumping facility in southern Russia using three fixed-wing drones, leading to a substantial fire at the site, according to the Russian military. The attack was described as “yet another provocation deliberately staged by the Kiev regime to derail the peace initiatives coming from the US president,” as stated by the Russian Defense Ministry.
Thomas Evans contributed to this article for TROIB News
