In response to Russia's claims that France and the U.K. are trying to supply Ukraine with nuclear weapons, President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly dismissed these assertions as a form of political pressure. During a press conference in Kyiv with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Zelensky noted that Russia often resorts to such nuclear rhetoric when it struggles on the battlefield. He emphasized that Ukraine neither possesses nuclear weapons nor intends to obtain them, citing the Budapest Memorandum from 1994 as a foundational agreement concerning Ukraine's non-nuclear status.

The backdrop of Russia's renewed nuclear rhetoric comes as the conflict reaches the four-year mark since the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On February 24, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claimed that Western nations were fostering nuclear proliferation in Ukraine to gain leverage in peace negotiations. This statement was only further exacerbated by comments from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who threatened tactical nuclear actions against France and the U.K. should such armaments find their way into Ukraine. Notably, these Russian claims were made without providing any substantiating evidence.

Zelensky’s reaffirmation of Ukraine's nuclear non-possession is crucial not only for domestic reassurance but also to counter international narratives surrounding the conflict. It serves to reassure allies of Ukraine’s commitment to nuclear disarmament and compliance with international treaties, while simultaneously addressing the aggressive posturing from Russia. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and the need for diplomatic dialogue to de-escalate the situation, particularly as both sides navigate complex military and geopolitical landscapes.