Zelenskyy: I would “gladly” accept nuclear weapons, but no offers made

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would “gladly” accept nuclear weapons from France and the United Kingdom, commenting on Russian claims about an alleged transfer of nuclear-related technology to Kyiv.

In an interview with Sky News, Zelenskyy responded to accusations from Moscow concerning the possible provision of technology linked to a so-called “dirty bomb.”

“I would gladly accept, but no such proposals have been made yet,” the Ukrainian president said.

Earlier, the Kremlin described the potential transfer of nuclear technology to Ukraine as a “flagrant” violation of international law. Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov stated that reports about possible intentions by Paris and London are “extremely important.”

“It is important in terms of the threat it poses to the entire non-proliferation regime, including in the context of the hot conflict taking place in Europe, on the European continent,” Peskov said.

“Of course, we will take this information into account and consider it in the ongoing negotiations, because it is potentially extremely dangerous information,” he added.

Previously, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claimed that the United Kingdom and France were allegedly preparing to transfer nuclear technology to Kyiv.

“Currently, according to information available to the SVR, London and Paris are actively working on resolving issues related to providing Kyiv with such weapons and means of delivery. This involves the covert transfer of European components, equipment, and technologies in this field to Ukraine,” the agency’s press office said in a statement.

Russian intelligence agencies further asserted that Ukraine’s allies were attempting to make any potential appearance of nuclear weapons in Kyiv appear as the result of Ukraine’s own development, arguing that “the British and French are aware that their plans involve a gross violation of international law, primarily the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and carry the risk of destroying the global non-proliferation system.”

By Tamilla Hasanova