PANews reported on December 26 that, according to Kommersant, Russian President Vladimir Putin told business leaders on December 24 that Russia might consider exchanging some controlled areas to reach an agreement with Ukraine, but only on the condition that "Donbas must be returned to Russia." He also mentioned that Russia and the United States are discussing joint management of the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant and stated that the United States has expressed interest in cryptocurrency mining in the region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied accepting any proposal to hand over Donbas or Zaporizhia during the US-Ukraine talks.