Zelenskyy Dismisses Nuclear Bomb Speculation: “We Don’t Do Nuclear Weapons“

When asked by a journalist whether Ukraine would consider developing nuclear weapons if it fails to join NATO, President Zelenskyy responded: "Sometimes we create problems for ourselves. You're doing it now." He emphasized that Ukraine has never discussed preparing to build a nuclear bomb.

This exchange took place at a joint press conference by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on 17 October 2024.

Zelenskyy went on to reference the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which saw Ukraine give up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security guarantees from major nuclear powers, including Russia, China, and the United States. He noted that despite these assurances, Russia has violated Ukraine's sovereignty twice in the past decade, leaving Ukraine no choice but to pursue NATO membership for its security.

“We don’t do nuclear weapons, please, do not move this message” Zelenskyy concluded.