Foreign Ministry responds to rumors about Ukraine's alleged plans to develop nuclear weapons

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has officially denied rumors that our country plans to develop weapons of mass destruction. The Ministry reminded that Russia is engaged in nuclear blackmail.

The statement was made by Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi on Thursday, October 17.

Ukraine does not develop weapons of mass destruction

Tykhyi noted that the information about Ukraine's development of weapons of mass destruction was spread by BILD, citing unnamed sources.

"Ukraine has been and remains a committed party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which it acceded to in 1994, having renounced the world's third most powerful military nuclear capability," the minister reminded.

He reminded that Ukraine has made the largest contribution to international peace, security and nuclear non-proliferation in history. Instead, it is now under constant pressure from Russia, which is using nuclear blackmail.

"Moscow not only resorts to irresponsible and dangerous rhetoric regarding weapons of mass destruction but also creates unacceptable threats to nuclear facilities on Ukrainian territory by continuing the illegal occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and considering the possibility of strikes against elements of Ukraine's nuclear energy system," Tykhyi reminded.

He also called on the international community to increase pressure on the aggressor state to prevent the implementation of its aggressive plans.

It is worth recalling that Russia, which is engaged in nuclear blackmail, is, albeit illegally, a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Instead, Ukraine fulfills its obligations and counts on other responsible international actors to fulfill them.

"We call for united efforts of the international community in implementing the Peace Formula, in particular its first point — Radiation and Nuclear Safety," Tychyi said.

Earlier, we reported that Russia continues to threaten nuclear weapons in response to Western assistance to Ukraine. However, there is currently no risk of nuclear escalation on the part of the aggressor state, according to Patrick Turner, NATO's senior representative to Ukraine.

In addition, the North Atlantic Alliance has recently launched annual military exercises. In particular, member states will train in the use of nuclear weapons.