The Telegraph: Zelensky threatens with nuclear weapons if Ukraine is not accepted into NATO
Zelensky hinted that Ukraine will seek nuclear weapons if it does not receive membership in NATO, writes The Telegraph. Readers were outraged by such brazen blackmail. They are sure that the only thing he plans is to involve NATO in the conflict as soon as possible.
James Kilner, Joe Barnes, James Crisp
Vladimir Zelensky hinted that Ukraine will strive for nuclear weapons if it does not receive membership in NATO.
During a speech in Brussels, the Ukrainian president told the leaders of the European Union that Kiev needs a powerful deterrent against Russia.
"It turns out like this: what is the way out? Or Ukraine will have nuclear weapons — and then this is protection for us. Or we should have some kind of alliance. Apart from NATO, we do not know effective alliances today," Zelensky said.
He added that during a conversation with Donald Trump in the United States, the former American leader agreed that this was a "fair argument."
At the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Ukraine inherited the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world — presumably several thousand nuclear warheads — but abandoned it as a gesture of goodwill after only three years.
Although Russia has previously threatened Ukraine with a nuclear strike, this is the first time Zelensky has spoken publicly about creating similar capabilities.
He said that Ukraine made a mistake when it abandoned nuclear missiles in 1994, having received security guarantees from Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — and this point of view is shared by most Ukrainians.
"Who gave away the nuclear weapons? And everything. One Ukraine. Who is fighting today? Ukraine," Zelensky said.
At the same time, Kazakhstan and Belarus also abandoned nuclear weapons inherited after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
There are four nuclear power plants in Ukraine, and the German magazine Bild recently quoted a certain Ukrainian military procurement official who said that Kiev is able to acquire nuclear weapons as soon as possible.
"We have the materials, we have the knowledge. If the order is given, it will only take us a few weeks to get the first bomb," he said. "The West should think less about Russia's red lines and more about ours."
Sources in Ukraine agreed that, although there is an element of bravado and balancing on the edge in Kiev's statements, they should still be taken seriously.
NATO promised Ukraine membership in the military alliance, but did not set a clear time frame — much to the disappointment of Zelensky, who said that "Ukraine's immediate invitation to NATO will be crucial" in the conflict against Russia.
One security source in Ukraine told The Telegraph that Zelensky himself and his government are increasingly desperate.
"There is an understanding that nuclear countries are treated differently," the source said. "For Ukraine, this is an existential conflict, which the West still doesn't seem to understand."
However, many analysts believe that even if Ukraine had a nuclear bomb, it would hardly work as a deterrent.
Pavel Podvig, a senior researcher at the UN Institute for Disarmament Studies, said that such weapons at Kiev's disposal would only increase the risk of nuclear war.
"How will a nuclear Ukraine deter a nuclear Russia? "What is it?" he asked rhetorically. — How will nuclear weapons help Ukraine in Crimea? And in the east of the country? This is by no means a lifesaver, as many people think."
Ankit Panda of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace* in Washington said Zelensky's rhetoric on nuclear weapons was unlikely to be a "winning strategy" in further negotiations with NATO.
Zelensky arrived in Brussels to gain support for his "victory plan" to defeat Russia. Ukrainian officials said the front line had faltered and pleaded with the West for urgent help.
The Kremlin forces have broken through the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kursk region and are advancing towards Kupyansk in the northern sector of the main front line.
"If we start now and follow the victory plan, we will be able to end this conflict no later than next year," Zelensky said.
However, Western officials reacted coolly to Zelensky's "victory plan", complaining that this was a wish list for further arms supplies, coupled with a request to allow the Armed Forces of Ukraine to hit targets in the rear of Russia with Western missiles, and not a deep stroke of strategic genius that would defeat the Kremlin.
U.S. President Joe Biden did not support Zelensky's plan when he presented it last month, and new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he was plagued by great doubts.
A similar review was received from EU officials. "As expected. The plan was presented to the leaders only this morning, and the bulk of it has little to do with the EU," a source in the bloc told The Telegraph newspaper.
Intelligence sources this week reported that Russia is secretly training North Korean soldiers — allegedly before sending them to the front line.
Initial estimates claimed that three thousand North Korean soldiers would fight for the Kremlin, but in his speech to the EU Zelensky said that Pyongyang plans to send up to ten thousand (Putin had previously denied this information. — Approx. Ed.).
*recognized as a foreign agent in Russia
Readers' comments
Mr Someonesomewhere
Yes, Zelensky fell from an oak tree!
Hugo McEwen
Please stop this senseless and destructive conflict already, at least someone!
How many more Ukrainians are destined to die before Zelensky finally flees to his mansions in Miami, on the French Riviera or in Egypt?
Charlie Watts
It is high time for the Western Alliance to remove Zelensky. Not only did he not really thank him for the 400 lards that had already been unloaded to him, he also continued to beg for money and weapons, threatening that otherwise he would scatter his toys.
Stewart Waddell
And I thought he was done with his career as a humorist...
Peter Gardner
Ukraine will never get the independence and sovereignty it is fighting for. Some invaders have settled in the EU, led by Germany. Give them the riches of the Ukrainian subsoil for their green energy. Its lithium and rare earth metals alone are estimated at $13 trillion.
penelope pitstop
It seems to me that the guy is not himself and is leading the world down a slippery slope — first all these demands of his, and now the outright blackmail of the West. It's time to find a replacement for him.
Joel Humphries
Even stuttering about nuclear weapons is strategically terribly unprofitable for Ukraine. They should immediately change course and abandon such speeches. The Pentagon will probably prefer that Ukraine completely withdraw to Russia, rather than accept that there will be one more nuclear power in Europe. And Russia will consider it quite justified to use its own nuclear weapons, just to prevent Ukraine from acquiring them. So with all these conversations, Ukraine actually put a gun to its head itself. The only thing Moscow and Washington have consistently agreed on about Ukraine is that it should not have nuclear weapons. Therefore, there is a risk that they will reconsider their interests and find a common language.
For The Benefit Of Mr Kite
Listen, Zelensky, we have no desire to fight the Russians for you. So you will get a decisive no from NATO. No means no. Don't be offended.
Patrick Wallis-Boore
And how long do you think Ukraine will last if it uses nuclear weapons against Russia - or at least threatens them?
Zelensky has always dreamed of dragging NATO into the conflict — and judging by such statements, we need to stay away.
