Well, this is a bombshell of an idea—literally. President Trump has suggested that the United States take control of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, pitching it as a way to protect Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and deter Russian aggression. The proposal was met with surprise in Kyiv, and while President Zelensky called discussions “positive steps,” it’s unclear if this plan has any chance of moving forward. The biggest focus is on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, currently under Russian control. With U.S. nuclear company Westinghouse already deeply invested in Ukraine’s energy future, the economic angle is hard to ignore. But legal roadblocks, political resistance, and the massive effort needed to restore war-damaged reactors make this idea hugely complicated. So, is this about security, energy, or business? The answer could be all three.

Key Takeaways:

• Trump suggested that the United States take control of Ukraine’s nuclear plants, claiming that U.S. involvement would help secure Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
• The White House framed this as economic security for Ukraine, arguing that Russian attacks would be less likely if U.S. businesses were involved.
• Ukraine’s reaction? Mixed. Zelensky described discussions as “positive,” but also pointed out that privatizing Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy system would be politically difficult.
• Westinghouse, a U.S. nuclear giant, is heavily invested in Ukraine’s nuclear expansion and stands to benefit if the Zaporizhzhia plant returns to Ukrainian control.
• A major challenge is that Ukraine’s laws prohibit privatization of nuclear plants, meaning a legal overhaul would be necessary.
• Restoring the Zaporizhzhia facility could take up to 2.5 years, assuming it’s ever handed back from Russia—which many in Ukraine doubt.
• Potential risks: War damage has left Ukraine's nuclear plants vulnerable, with damaged power lines and limited cooling capacity increasing the risk of accidents.

This idea isn’t just a policy proposal—it’s a geopolitical puzzle with huge stakes for Ukraine, Russia, and U.S. energy firms. Will it happen? Unclear. But one thing’s for sure: it just raised a whole lot of eyebrows.
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