Ukrainian president denies plans to develop nuclear weapons

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Ukraine does not intend to develop nuclear weapons.

President Zelenskyy made these remarks during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media. 

"We have never claimed that we are preparing to create nuclear weapons. When I mentioned the Budapest Memorandum, I emphasised that it was signed by respected countries. It clearly states that Ukraine relinquished its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security guarantees. This means we have given up our nuclear weapons. For us, there is no protection other than NATO; this is our signal. However, we are not developing our own nuclear weapons," he said.

Earlier Bild newspaper wrote, citing a source, that Ukrainian authorities are seriously considering the possibility of restoring their nuclear weapons stockpile. An unnamed Ukrainian source claimed that it would take Kyiv "just a few weeks to obtain its first bomb".

In response, Ukrainian presidential communication advisor Dmitry Litvin criticised the German newspaper, stating that it had spread nonsense. President Zelenskyy addressed a press conference in Brussels, asserting that Ukraine's possession of nuclear weapons is the only alternative to NATO. 

He revealed that he discussed this issue during a meeting with US ex-President Donald Trump in September. President Zelenskyy also raised the topic of nuclear capabilities on February 15, 2022, several days before the beginning of the special military operation, suggesting that Kyiv might reconsider its commitments under the Budapest Memorandum.

By Naila Huseynova