Zelenskyy refutes Russian allegations of nuclear arms transfer to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Moscow’s claims that Kyiv is seeking to acquire nuclear weapons as false.

He described the rhetoric as a tool of political pressure by Russia and a way of preparing for international and trilateral negotiations, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

Zelenskyy’s comments came in response to statements by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service on February 24, which alleged it had information suggesting that London and Paris were “actively working” to provide Ukraine with nuclear weapons. According to the Russian agency, the European countries planned to carry out the transfer covertly and present the nuclear bomb as a domestically developed Ukrainian product.

Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev doubled down on those accusations, warning that Russia would have the right to a symmetrical response if the United Kingdom and France were to hand over nuclear weapons to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy described such statements as extremely dangerous and voiced hope that other countries, particularly nuclear powers, would respond. He specifically pointed to Washington, suggesting that it "could send an appropriate signal to Russia."

The Ukrainian president made the remarks during a press conference in Kyiv alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who is visiting the country. The Scandinavian leader supported Zelenskyy’s stance, stressing that any Russian nuclear threats must be firmly rejected.

By Nazrin Sadigova