Russia and US discuss joint nuclear-powered data centers

Russia and the United States are discussing new economic and investment projects, including the development of joint data centers that could be powered by Russian nuclear energy. Kirill Dmitriev, a special representative for President Vladimir Putin on investment and economic cooperation, announced these discussions at the ‘Russian Energy Week’ forum in Moscow.

Dmitriev indicated that the talks involve a broad package of potential projects, ranging from energy investments in the Arctic and liquefied natural gas to data processing centers. He specifically mentioned the possibility of using Russian atomic power plants, including small nuclear reactors, to meet the increasing electricity demands of such infrastructure.

These discussions follow a recent agreement regarding diesel fuel supplies. Dmitriev suggested that ‘the ice is beginning to break’ regarding bilateral cooperation, though he acknowledged that sanctions and political restrictions complicate the implementation of potential deals. The initiative may also extend to other Russian commodities for the US market, such as uranium, fertilizers, aluminum, and rare earth metals.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed warnings regarding such agreements, suggesting they could pave the way for sanctions relief for Russia without necessarily ending the conflict in Ukraine.