Russia and the US are discussing joint management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (NPP), seized by Russian troops, without the participation of Ukraine, Kommersant newspaper correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov reported, without disclosing the source of this information.

According to him, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about this during a closed meeting with business representatives on Wednesday. “American partners, for example, have shown interest in mining at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Electricity supplies to Ukraine, also at the initiative of the American side, are being discussed,” Kolesnikov said.

He added that, according to Putin, the US has asked Russia whether it is possible for Ukrainian specialists to work at this NPP. And Putin “responded that they are working there now, as before; it's just that their passport is now Russian,” Kolesnikov said.

Management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is one of the key issues raised in the resolution of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The latter, according to its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, wants this nuclear plant to be managed solely by his country and the US. In this case, Ukraine would receive 50 percent of the electricity produced by this nuclear plant, and the US would distribute the remaining 50 percent.