Putin expresses hope that nuclear weapons will not be necessary in Ukraine

In comments aired on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the situation has not necessitated the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine, and he expressed hope that it will not come to that.

In a preview of an upcoming interview with Russian state television shared on Telegram, Putin asserted that Russia possesses the capability and resources to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a ‘logical conclusion.’ When asked by a state television reporter about Ukrainian attacks on Russia, Putin remarked: ‘There has been no need to use those (nuclear) weapons … and I hope they will not be required.’

He added, ‘We have sufficient strength and resources to achieve the outcome Russia desires from what began in 2022.’ In February 2022, Putin ordered a significant deployment of Russian troops into Ukraine, which the Kremlin refers to as a ‘special military operation’ against its neighbor.

Although Russian forces were pushed back from Kyiv, they currently control approximately 20% of Ukraine, particularly in the southern and eastern regions. Recently, Putin has shown a willingness to pursue a peace settlement, aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump’s desire to resolve the conflict through diplomatic efforts.

Concerns about potential nuclear escalation have influenced the considerations of U.S. officials since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Former CIA Director William Burns noted that there was a genuine risk in late 2022 that Russia might resort to nuclear weapons against Ukraine.