Zelenskyy: Zaporizhzhia NPP won't operate for Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserted that the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP) is fundamentally a Ukrainian facility and will not function without Ukraine's involvement. He highlighted discussions with former US President Donald Trump regarding the plant's future, emphasizing that Russia cannot expect to utilize it for electricity. Zelenskyy estimated that restoring the plant would take approximately 2 to 2.5 years and require significant investment, which he suggested could be a collaborative effort with the US. Conversely, the Russian Foreign Ministry reiterated its stance that ZNPP is a 'Russian nuclear facility' and that any transfer of control back to Ukraine is impossible. They also expressed concerns over potential safety risks associated with joint operations involving foreign nations. The ongoing dispute underscores the geopolitical tensions surrounding Ukraine's energy infrastructure amidst the conflict.