US reaffirms no nuclear weapon transfer to Ukraine as Russia escalates risks

On November 26, the White House said that it does not plan to equip Ukraine with nuclear weapons.

"The very threat of transferring nuclear weapons to the Kyiv regime can be considered preparation for nuclear conflict with Russia," the statement reads, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Tensions in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine have escalated dramatically following President Joe Biden’s authorization for Kyiv to use US-made long-range weapons in strikes on Russian territory. This development, coupled with Russia’s deployment of the hypersonic ballistic missile Oreshnik on Ukrainian soil, has heightened concerns over the potential for nuclear escalation.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a new nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for Russia’s use of its vast nuclear arsenal. The doctrine now permits a nuclear response to any conventional attack on Russia by a nation supported by a nuclear power. This shift reflects Moscow's increasing willingness to use nuclear weapons in the face of external threats, intensifying fears of a broader conflict.

Putin’s remarks on November 21, where he linked Ukraine’s use of US-made ATACMS missiles to Russia's hypersonic missile strikes on Dnipro, further fuelled concerns. He stated that Russia reserves the right to retaliate against military facilities in countries that use weapons against Russian targets, warning of a “mirror” response if aggression escalates.

Russian officials, including State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, have also threatened a “more powerful” response to any further Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory. This rhetoric comes amid Biden's decision to approve sending anti-personnel land mines to Ukraine, adding to fears of further escalation. US Senator Ted Cruz has expressed alarm, accusing Biden of “pouring petrol around the White House.”

The situation took another dramatic turn when Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s Deputy Chairman of the Security Council, warned the US on Telegram about the risks of nuclear war. Medvedev’s post referenced the growing discussions in the US about transferring nuclear weapons to Ukraine, a move that he suggested could bring the world to the brink of disaster.

By Aghakazim Guliyev