Russian intercontinental ballistic missiles Yars (ICBM), in the center of Moscow during a rehearsal for Victoria Day, when Russia will celebrate 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. Photo source: Alexander Nemenov / AFP / Profimedia
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Sunday that the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine was not imposed on Sunday, and that he will not need it, Reuters reports.
In an fragment of an interview with Russian state television, published on Telegram, Putin said that Russia has the power and means to lead the conflict from Ukraine to a “logical conclusion”.
Answering a question of a state television reporter about Ukrainian attacks on Russia, Putin said: “It was not necessary to use these weapons (nuclear, no) … and I hope they will not be needed.”
He said, “We have enough power and means to complete what started in 2022, with the result desired by Russia.”
In February 2022, Putin ordered the sending of tens of thousands of Russian soldiers to Ukraine, in what the Kremlin calls a “special military operation” against the neighboring country.
Although Russian troops have been rejected from Kiev, Moscow forces are currently controlling about 20% of Ukraine, including a large part of the south and east.
In recent weeks, Putin has expressed his willingness to negotiate a peace agreement, while US President Donald Trump said he wants to end the conflict by diplomatic means.
The fear of nuclear escalation was an important factor in the thinking of American officials from the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in early 2022.
Former CIA director William Burns said that at the end of 2022 there was a real risk that Russia would use nuclear weapons against Ukraine.
