Moscow, October 19, 2024 – The Europe Today: Russian President Vladimir Putin has firmly declared that Moscow will never allow Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons, warning that any attempt by Kiev to pursue such a path would be met with an “appropriate reaction” from Russia. Putin’s remarks came during a press conference with media from BRICS countries in Moscow, following recent comments from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky regarding Ukraine’s security needs.
Zelensky had earlier stated that Kiev would require either NATO membership or nuclear weapons to ensure its security, though he dismissed media reports suggesting that Ukraine was poised to produce an atomic bomb, emphasizing that the nuclear rhetoric only highlighted the necessity of joining the US-led military bloc.
In response, Putin characterized the nuclear discussion as a “dangerous provocation,” stressing that Russia would not tolerate Ukraine’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities under any circumstances. He noted that Ukraine’s leadership had expressed interest in nuclear weapons long before the current conflict escalated.
“Making nuclear weapons is not that difficult nowadays,” Putin remarked, while expressing doubts about Ukraine’s current capacity to develop such an arsenal. He emphasized that Russia is closely monitoring any activities related to nuclear development, stating that if any foreign country, such as the UK, attempted to secretly supply Ukraine with atomic weapons, it would be “impossible to hide.”
Russia’s firm stance on the issue reflects its broader security concerns regarding the potential spread of nuclear capabilities in the region amidst the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
