President Donald Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday. During the call, he reportedly offered to take over Ukraine’s power plants as a form of protection.
The offer from Trump is a first in the war, as it means that the U.S. could deter Russian attacks while both sides continue to try and hammer out a ceasefire.
National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the offer from Trump in a joint statement after the call.
“American ownership of those plants would be the best protection for that infrastructure and support for Ukrainian energy infrastructure,” Waltz and Rubio said.
“He said that the United States could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise,” they added.
The latest offer from the president comes as he continues to try and gain something from Ukraine in exchange for helping fund the country’s war efforts. The administration is still working to try and hammer out a rare earth minerals deal that could see the U.S. receive billions worth of non-renewable substances.
However, that deal was put on hold after Zelensky and Trump had a fiery exchange in the Oval Office, which ended with the Ukrainian leader leaving the White House.
After the call, Zelensky did not discuss the U.S. taking control of his nation’s power plants. However, he did support Trump’s continued efforts for a partial ceasefire.
“We agreed that Ukraine and the United States should continue working together to achieve a real end to the war and lasting peace,” Zelensky said in a statement. “We believe that together with America, with President Trump, and under American leadership, lasting peace can be achieved this year.”
Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday for nearly three hours about a peace deal.