As U.S. officials prepare for talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia this Sunday, doubts persist over the Trump administration’s ability to secure an extended ceasefire. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently agreed to a temporary halt on strikes targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, leading the U.S. delegation, aim to negotiate a Black Sea ceasefire, similar to the 2022 Black Sea Grain Initiative, which Putin abandoned in 2023. However, experts question Putin’s reliability in such talks.
A key topic will be Ukraine’s nuclear energy infrastructure. The Trump administration has proposed U.S. “ownership” of Ukraine’s energy facilities, including nuclear plants, as a means of protection. While Rubio and Waltz support this idea, former intelligence officer Rebekah Koffler warns it will face strong opposition from both Russia and Ukraine. Putin is unlikely to agree, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may also resist, despite the Zaporizhzhia plant being under Russian control.
Koffler suggests Putin might view U.S. control of Ukraine’s nuclear plants as a security guarantee for Ukraine, potentially militarizing its nuclear capabilities—a scenario Russia fears. Former CIA Moscow station chief Dan Hoffman doubts the proposal will impact ceasefire talks, noting Putin’s continued attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. Hoffman emphasizes that Putin’s ultimate goal is to weaken Ukraine and remove its government, making any ceasefire temporary and strategic.
The success of the talks hinges on Putin’s willingness to end the war, but there is no indication he seeks a genuine ceasefire.
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