This Time, Trump Eyes Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant

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Following his demand for a stake in Ukraine's rare earth minerals, U.S. President Donald Trump has now proposed that the United States own and operate Ukraine's nuclear power plants. This is interpreted as an effort to counter Russia and China, who are advancing in the nuclear sector, and to secure energy leadership closely tied to national security.

On the 19th (local time), U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and White House National Security Advisor Michael Waltz stated in a joint statement that President Trump discussed Ukraine's power supply and nuclear power plants with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. They said, "President Trump mentioned that the U.S. could provide significant assistance in operating the plants based on its expertise in power and public facility management, and emphasized that U.S. ownership of the plants would be the best way to protect the infrastructure and support Ukraine's energy infrastructure." Similar to the rationale he presented when demanding a stake in Ukraine's rare earth minerals, the idea is that if the U.S. holds shares in Ukrainian facilities, it could reduce the likelihood of Russia attacking Ukraine.

President Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social, which he founded, saying, "I just had a very good call with President Zelensky," adding, "The call lasted about an hour."

According to The New York Times (NYT), President Zelensky said that this idea would be limited to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest in Europe currently under Russian control. However, the U.S. statement referred to "Ukraine's power supply and nuclear power plants." The NYT pointed out, "The idea of the U.S. owning Ukraine's electricity and nuclear facilities could raise numerous challenges," and noted that "the two sides have not reached an agreement on which plant is in question."

The Zaporizhzhia plant, with a capacity of 6,000 MW, produces 20-25% of Ukraine's electricity and is currently under Russian control. According to data from the World Nuclear Association, as of 2021, only 15 countries worldwide produce natural uranium, i.e., uranium ore concentrate. Ukraine ranks 9th, accounting for 0.9% of total uranium production.

Foreign media cite mineral resources as the reason for the U.S.'s interest in Ukraine's nuclear power plants. The NYT reported, "The mineral agreement President Trump wants depends on extracting and processing those minerals," adding, "This requires a lot of energy, and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, with its six reactors?the largest in Europe?can provide that energy."

There is also an interpretation that the U.S. is taking concrete steps to regain its position in the nuclear industry, where Russia and China have taken the lead. A report titled "Restoring America's Competitive Nuclear Energy Advantage," published during Trump's first term in April 2020, states that "the U.S. has lost its position as a global leader in the nuclear sector" and that "leadership has shifted to Russia, China, and others."

The report also expresses concerns that as the U.S. falls behind in the global nuclear competition, its diplomatic options will narrow, and its international influence in setting strong non-proliferation, safety, and security standards will weaken. This reflects the U.S.'s determination to enhance its nuclear capabilities and expand its presence, especially since Russia, which has weaponized energy supply, dominates the nuclear market. For this reason, some fear that the U.S. may more frequently launch challenges such as patent infringement lawsuits against countries ahead of it to strengthen its nuclear competitiveness in the future.