Key Points:

• US ⁤President Donald Trump proposed that ‌the US should own Ukraine’s nuclear plants.
• US officials suggested that​ american ownership of nuclear plants could shield⁤ them from Russian attacks.
• The UK and⁣ France have expressed willingness to perhaps ​deploy troops in ‌Ukraine.

Amid ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, US President ​Donald Trump has suggested to Ukrainian President​ Volodymyr Zelensky that ‍the US could take ownership and operational⁣ control of​ Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. This proposal surfaces as approximately 30 military leaders from various nations convened in Britain⁣ on Thursday to strategize ‍for a ‌potential peacekeeping ⁢force, aimed‌ at upholding a ceasefire between Russia and ukraine.

Following a Wednesday call with Trump,⁣ Zelensky indicated Kyiv’s readiness to “pause ​attacks‍ on ‌Russia’s energy network and ⁤infrastructure,” mirroring a prior agreement⁤ from Russian leader Vladimir Putin to cease similar strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure. Zelensky confirmed discussions ​regarding Trump’s plan for a power​ plant takeover.

During an online briefing while on an official visit to⁢ Finland, Zelensky stated, “We talked only about one power plant, which is ‌under Russian​ occupation,” specifically ​referencing the Zaporizhzhia plant. He ‍also clarified ⁣that he had “not felt any pressure”⁣ from Trump ‍to concede to Russian ⁣demands.

However, a ⁤comprehensive ceasefire remains elusive. Putin,during his own call with Trump on ‍Tuesday,insisted that the ‌West must first cease all military aid to Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. (photo by various sources/AFP)

Meanwhile,​ UK Prime Minister ​Keir Starmer⁢ and France’s President Emmanuel‌ Macron ⁤have expressed their countries’ willingness to potentially deploy troops on the ground in Ukraine. The UK government has⁤ indicated that a “significant number” of nations are prepared to consider similar actions,although the exact number remains ​unclear.

Trump’s demeanor appeared more optimistic⁤ following the ‍call ⁣with Zelensky,with the White House describing it as “fantastic.” Trump “discussed ukraine’s⁣ electrical supply and nuclear power plants”‌ and suggested Washington could be “very helpful” in their operation, according to a ‍joint statement from National‌ Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State⁤ Marco Rubio.

American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for ‌that infrastructure.

Trump also committed to assisting Kyiv in ‍acquiring⁤ more air defense equipment from Europe and locating Ukrainian children “abducted” by russia, according to the⁢ statement. Earlier, the US president stated on his Truth Social network that efforts to achieve a full truce were “very much on track.”

zelensky mentioned⁤ that Ukrainian and US officials might meet in Saudi arabia for further discussions, coinciding with a planned⁣ meeting ⁣between Russian and American teams early the following week. In what Moscow described as a goodwill gesture following the ‍Trump-Putin call,Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange involving 372 individuals ⁢on Wednesday.

Despite these developments, ​both kyiv​ and ⁤Moscow have accused each other of continued attacks. Russia claimed⁤ to have destroyed 132 ⁢Ukrainian drones in overnight attacks across several regions. ukrainian emergency services reported that a Russian drone attack struck residential buildings in Kropyvnytsky in central Ukraine, injuring eight​ people, including a child, on Thursday.

russian soldiers ride a quad bike (ATV) in the​ village of Kazachya Loknya. (Tatyana Makeyeva/AFP)

A significant obstacle‍ remains Putin’s⁢ reluctance to agree to a full⁤ ceasefire, which Kyiv and some Western ‍allies interpret as a sign ⁣of untrustworthiness. Putin insisted​ that ‍a full ceasefire would only be possible⁤ if the west agreed ⁣to ​halt its substantial military aid‍ to Ukraine. He ​also demanded that Ukraine be prohibited from re-arming and must cease mandatory mobilization.

Discrepancies even emerged regarding the content ⁤of the Trump-Putin call. The ⁣Kremlin stated that discussions were limited to halting power ⁣plant attacks, while the White house maintained that the talks ⁢encompassed ​both energy and other civilian infrastructure.

A ‍Long Range Reconnaissance (LRR) drone at the Hohenfels Training Area in ⁤southern Germany.‌ (Armin Weigel/AFP)

Trump’s approaches to Putin, coupled with indications that ⁢Washington may no longer guarantee European security, have unsettled Kyiv and the United States’ NATO allies. “I don’t believe Putin ​at all, not a single word. He only understands force,” ⁤stated Lev Sholoudko, ⁤32, a resident‍ of Kyiv.

In moscow, some locals expressed optimism that the talks could lead to an end to the conflict, potentially favoring Russia. “Definitely this is​ in​ our favour,” commented larisa, 46, a Moscow resident. “There ⁢is no other ⁤way. What happened in 1945 will happen now,” ‍she added,‌ alluding to the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany.