Ukraine weighs US presence at nuclear plants

The United States may have a presence in Ukraine – although not in a way that many expect.

During the recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where Ukraine agreed to halt attacks on Russia's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the idea of ​​establishing a US presence at Ukrainian nuclear power plants came up.

Zelensky said that during the conversation with Trump, he discussed the possibility of American assistance in the restoration of Zaporizhia, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe, which has been under Russian occupation since March 2022, A2 reports.

"I told him that just liberating Zaporizhia is not enough because there must be infrastructure there: water supply, technical personnel and many other steps so that in the future the station starts bringing money and electricity to the people," Zelensky said regarding the phone conversation.

According to the White House statement on the March 19 call, Trump told Zelensky that American ownership of Ukraine's electricity supply and nuclear power plants "would be the best protection for this infrastructure."

US nuclear staff in Ukraine

Experts interviewed by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Ukrainian Service welcomed the proposal, saying it would be a strong security guarantee and a step in the right direction for Ukraine's transition of nuclear energy from Russia to the West.

"I believe that if Mr. Trump has made such a proposal, Ukraine should not reject it, but should accept it, with some conditions," said Volodymyr Omelchenko, director of the energy program at the Razumkov Center, a think tank based in Kiev.

These conditions, he suggested, should include guaranteeing full control by Ukraine and ensuring that Energoatom, the state-owned nuclear power company, remains the sole operator.

"Nobody knows the specifics [of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant] except Ukrainian specialists, as each nuclear unit has its own specifics," Omelchenko said.

Ukraine has 15 operational reactors at four nuclear plants, one of which, the Zaporizhia plant, is under Russian occupation. Two reactors are officially under construction, but no active work has been reported in more than 30 years, according to the State of the World Nuclear Industry report for 2024.

Of the 15 nuclear reactors, 12 are Soviet-era reactors connected to the grid before Ukraine gained independence in 1991. Ukraine's Soviet-era nuclear fleet provides half of the energy consumed in the country.

Nuclear power plants under attack

The situation in Ukraine is unprecedented. Never before has an active war been waged in a country with several nuclear power plants. In addition to the occupation of Zaporizhia, Russian drones have flown very close to the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant in western Ukraine. Missiles and drones have also passed near the Rivne plant, also in western Ukraine. Meanwhile, in February, a Russian drone hit the shelter covering the ruins of the destroyed Chernobyl reactor.

“The presence of American businesses, American interests there, will be a kind of security guarantee,” said political analyst Igor Reuterovich. While Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian infrastructure, the presence of American personnel on the ground could be seen as a red line that Moscow would be reluctant to cross.

In recent years, Ukraine has sought to reduce its dependence on Russian nuclear technology. A deal between global nuclear giant Westinghouse and Energoatom was signed in June 2022, guaranteeing that the company would provide all nuclear fuel for Ukraine's reactors, breaking a monopoly that Russia once had. There are also plans to build a new reactor in Khmelnytskyi, using American technology.

"It is clear that there is a security guarantee here, but also an interest in significant investments, cooperation with Westinghouse and other American companies, as well as the supply of equipment... There are many positive things with American involvement," Omelchenko said.

Concerns about the American presence in Ukraine

The devil, of course, is in the details. In a CNN article on March 20, Western experts cast doubt on the idea of ​​the United States running Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. The concern was maintaining a steady supply of power and sufficient cooling water, given the ongoing attacks on infrastructure. And, in practical terms, the experts said, Western nuclear technicians have no experience operating the Soviet-designed VVER reactors used in Ukraine.

There is also a discrepancy as to what exactly was discussed between Trump and Zelensky during the March 19 phone call. According to the Ukrainian president, the two leaders' discussion focused exclusively on the Zaporizhia power plant. The White House statement, however, mentions "power plants" - in the plural - and not just Zaporizhia.

While Zelensky is eager for U.S. assistance, he is committed to preserving Ukraine's sovereignty, especially in sectors that are closely related to national security. During his phone call with Trump, he made it clear that "all nuclear power plants in Ukraine are owned by the Ukrainian people."

A possible compromise, suggested by experts, would be to place Americans on the supervisory boards of nuclear power plants or on the board of Energoatom, a move that would provide influence and security without transferring ownership.

For others, US involvement would not be enough to improve the situation. “There is only one way for Ukraine to get Zaporizhia back,” said political analyst Vadym Denysenko, and that is “if Russian troops leave [the nearby city of] Energodar... and this territory in general. I see no other option.”

Chernobyl, site of the 1986 nuclear disaster, illustrates the limitations of international presence. Even with significant international funding and a high global profile, the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear power plant was again targeted during the conflict.

This happened on the night of February 14, when a Russian drone loaded with explosives hit the large shelter that stops the spread of radiation from the fourth reactor, which is destroyed.

"If American specialists... go to Ukrainian energy buildings and stay there, then it will certainly be less likely that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will attack these buildings," Serhiy Taran, a Ukrainian political scientist, told Radio Free Europe.

"They should hire security personnel," Taran added, and "it would be preferable for these security personnel to be armed with air defense systems."/ REL (A2 Televizion)