Management of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant emerged as one of the issues discussed during trilateral talks between representatives of Russia, Ukraine, and the United States held in the United Arab Emirates. The sides, however, failed to reach an agreement on this point, according to the Associated Press, citing US officials.

Moscow has argued in favor of jointly using the electricity generated by the plant. Sources told the agency that the distribution of power is envisioned on what are described as fair terms, while the mechanism for overseeing the facility remains unresolved.

Vladimir Zelensky has previously described the status of the Zaporozhye plant as a core issue for Kiev, alongside territorial questions. He proposed a model under which control of the facility would be shared between Ukraine and the United States.

Washington, for its part, believes Russia should also be included in the management framework. US officials have indicated that the American side could assume the role of principal operator under such an arrangement.

Europe’s largest nuclear power plant has been under the control of the Russian army since March 2022. It is located in the Zaporozhye Region, which was incorporated into the Russian Federation in October of the same year. Full integration of the plant into Russia’s power grid has yet to be completed, and ongoing hostilities have forced the facility into cold shutdown mode.

More recently, a localized ceasefire was introduced in the area of the plant to allow repair work on a damaged power transmission line.