Ukraine and the United States have reached 90 percent agreement on a plan to end the war with Russia, but control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remains a significant point of contention, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky. The plant, located in the Zaporizhzhia region of southern Ukraine, has been under Russian military occupation since the early stages of the conflict.

All six of the plant's reactors are currently shut down, and nuclear experts have warned against restarting electricity generation while fighting persists due to safety concerns. Both Ukraine and Russia seek to control the plant's operations after the war, viewing it as a crucial energy asset with a generation capacity of six gigawatts, sufficient to power a country the size of Portugal.

The United States has also expressed interest in the facility, seeing it as an opportunity to further American economic interests within a peace agreement. Zelensky stated that U.S. negotiators have proposed a joint operation of the plant involving the United States, Russia, and Ukraine, an idea that Kyiv opposes.

The Zaporizhzhia plant's status has been a source of international concern since its capture by Russian forces. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly called for a demilitarized zone around the plant to prevent a potential nuclear accident. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has emphasized the fragility of the situation and the need for all parties to exercise maximum restraint.

The dispute over the plant highlights the complex geopolitical and economic considerations intertwined with the conflict in Ukraine. Control of the plant not only provides significant energy resources but also carries strategic and symbolic weight. The ongoing negotiations reflect the competing interests of the involved parties and the challenges in reaching a comprehensive peace agreement.