Russia floats nuclear-powered data centers as part of new joint initiatives with the US

Russia wants to plug America’s AI ambitions into its nuclear reactors. On October 16, 2026, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for investment, said Russia and the US could discuss joint data center projects running on power from Russian nuclear plants, including small-scale reactors. Nothing has been signed, but Dmitriev suggested bigger announcements are coming soon. What Dmitriev actually said Dmitriev made his remarks at Russian Energy Week (REW 2026), an energy forum held in Moscow. Dmitriev specifically mentioned small-scale reactors alongside conventional nuclear plants. According to Dmitriev, a concrete list of projects has already been put together, with several Russian companies involved. He did not frame this as a single deal, but as part of a wider set of joint initiatives between the two countries. No definitive agreements or timelines have been finalized, and the discussions remain at a preliminary stage. The diesel deal that set the stage Around October 9, a diesel fuel supply agreement between Putin and US President Donald Trump was announced. Under that arrangement, Russia is set to supply ...