Zelensky walks back earlier comments on Ukraine's possible plan to obtain nuclear weapons
President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Oct. 17 that Ukraine was not pursuing nuclear weapons, clarifying comments he had made previously.
Earlier in the day, Zelensky said that he told Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in their meeting in September that Ukraine needs to be part of NATO, or it would pursue nuclear capabilities to protect itself.
In a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Zelensky walked back the comments and said explicitly that Ukraine was not seeking nuclear weapons.
"We never spoke about…that we are preparing to create nuclear weapons or something like this," he said.
Zelensky chided the reporter for asking about the earlier comments and said they were made to describe how the Budapest Memorandum had failed to provide Ukraine with an effective security umbrella.
Under the 1994 agreement, Ukraine agreed to give up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for receiving security guarantees from the U.S., the U.K., and Russia.
Zelensky emphasized that, given the failure of the Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine has no other option for effective security besides joining NATO.
"But we don't do…nuclear weapons," he emphasized, adding that he would ask for such a narrative not to be propagated.
Following Zelensky's comments, Rutte reiterated that Ukraine will become a NATO member but did not specify a timetable for when it would join.
Kateryna Denisova
Related posts:
Ukraine can produce nuclear weapons but its political costs would be too high, analysts say
Ukraine war latest: Zelensky says he told Trump that either Ukraine will join NATO or pursue nuclear weapons
The Counteroffensive: Ukraine’s nuclear ambitions fueled by betrayal, hindered by feasibility
Ukraine war latest: US confirms North Korean troops in Russia; Zelensky preparing plan to withstand war
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine reportedly uses ATACMS on Russian territory for first time; Zelensky presents resilience plan
Ukraine braces for winter freeze amid potential Russian strikes targeting nuclear power
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine confirms strike on Russian airbase in North Caucasus housing Su-34, Su-27 jets
“Nothing but a windbag.” Zelenskyy dismisses Orbán’s ceasefire calls at Budapest summit
About The Author
