Russia’s Putin Says He Hopes There Will Be No Need to Use Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine

BREAKING NEWS

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hopes there will be no need to use nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine, a carefully worded statement that highlights the ongoing tension and strategic messaging surrounding the conflict.

Speaking at a Moscow forum, Putin reaffirmed Russia’s nuclear doctrine, which permits use if the state’s existence is under threat but added that he sees no current military necessity for such action. “There is no need from a military point of view,” he said, while emphasizing that Russia remains prepared to defend its sovereignty “by all means necessary.”

Western officials and analysts viewed the remarks as a familiar form of nuclear signaling. The comment aligns with Moscow’s long-standing approach of using ambiguous nuclear rhetoric to deter Western involvement while avoiding outright escalation.

Ukraine dismissed the remarks as intimidation. Presidential advisor Mykhailo Podolyak labeled it “strategic blackmail,” urging allies not to be manipulated by Russia’s warnings. In response, NATO and U.S. officials stated they had seen no changes in Russia’s nuclear posture but warned that any use of such weapons would have severe consequences.

Putin’s statement comes amid a grinding, costly war that has failed to deliver a decisive victory. While the Russian leadership maintains a confident front, the mere mention of nuclear weapons continues to serve as a stark reminder of the stakes involved.