Zelensky Says Lack of Nuclear Weapons Leaves Ukraine Vulnerable

Zelensky Says Ukraine Is Vulnerable Without Nuclear Arms

04:03 08-07-2026

Zelensky says Ukraine remains vulnerable without nuclear weapons as fighting shifts to the air and Kiev lacks deterrence after a Russian strike.

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In an interview with the Financial Times, Vladimir Zelensky said Ukraine remains vulnerable because it does not have nuclear weapons. In his view, without such an arsenal, the country is outside the group of states that can count on reliable protection.

Zelensky said the nature of the fighting has changed noticeably, with the confrontation gradually shifting into the airspace. He argued that the recent Russian strike showed Kiev lacks sufficient deterrence capabilities.

He also noted that the Soviet missile potential had fully come under Moscow’s control.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that Moscow will not allow Kiev to acquire nuclear weapons. He has also stated that the transfer of such an arsenal to Ukraine by any country would violate non-proliferation obligations.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said nuclear weapons remain the main deterrent preventing the world from sliding into a large-scale military conflict. In his view, the existence of nuclear arsenals is what keeps international relations from complete degradation today.