NYT: Western allies debate return of nuclear weapons to Ukraine

Some US and European officials have suggested that Ukraine reclaim nuclear weapons it relinquished after the Soviet Union's collapse.

According to The New York Times (NYT), the proposal emerged during discussions about potential security guarantees that Western allies might provide to Kyiv, per Caliber.Az.

US officials noted that while accelerated arms deliveries may not yield immediate shifts in the battlefield dynamics, they could strengthen Ukraine's position in the event of a ceasefire.

Among the guarantees under consideration is the concept of "deterrence," involving the potential deployment of a robust arsenal of conventional weapons on Ukrainian soil. Some officials even floated the idea of reinstating Ukraine’s nuclear arsenal. However, the NYT highlighted that this option poses significant logistical and geopolitical challenges and risks triggering severe consequences.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also raised the issue of nuclear weapons. On October 17, during a press conference in Brussels, he stated that nuclear armament could serve as the only alternative to NATO membership. Zelenskyy revealed that he discussed the matter in September with Donald Trump, who later won the US presidential election.

On November 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree approving an updated nuclear doctrine. This document reaffirms that nuclear weapons are a last resort for protecting national sovereignty. However, it introduces new parameters for their potential use in response to emerging military threats. This revision replaces the previous doctrine approved in 2020, which itself updated a decade-old framework.

Amid these developments, Ukrainian officials have been enhancing their readiness for potential nuclear threats. A delegation of 10 Ukrainian soldiers and 10 Security Service members recently underwent advanced training in nuclear forensics at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

The training focused on post-detonation analysis, teaching participants how to collect and analyze nuclear debris to trace the origin of materials used in an attack. Nuclear forensics is a critical component of the US deterrence strategy, as it helps ensure accountability and discourages states from engaging in nuclear terrorism.

David Chichester, a directorate fellow at INL, emphasized the seriousness of Ukraine's approach. “Ukraine takes the threat of a Russian nuclear attack very seriously,” he said. “They have tackled it aggressively because the threat is real to them.”

Though the likelihood of Russia using nuclear weapons in Ukraine remains low, the ongoing conflict has heightened the need for advanced capabilities. Ukrainian officials collaborated with experts from INL, Argonne National Laboratory, and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) during the week-long training, gaining critical hands-on experience.

By Tamilla Hasanova