Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hopes nuclear weapons will not be needed in the war in Ukraine, despite claiming Russia has the strength to achieve its goals.
The comments aired Sunday in a state television documentary marking his 25 years in power.
“There has been no need to use those weapons… and I hope they will not be required,” Putin said in response to a question about Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory.
He added that Russia has “enough strength and means to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the outcome Russia requires.”
Putin’s remarks come amid stalled peace efforts and increasing battlefield tension.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday reiterated a call for a 30-day ceasefire, while criticizing Moscow's proposed 72-hour truce around Victory Day as symbolic and ineffective.
Zelensky said Ukraine remains open to peace but that Russia continues its assaults even during declared ceasefires, citing recent drone and missile attacks on Kyiv that injured 11 people.
He expressed skepticism over Russia’s truce offers, calling them a “theatrical performance.”
Putin also addressed the war’s origins, claiming Russia did not escalate in 2014 due to its unreadiness for a “frontal confrontation” with the West.
He reiterated his view that reconciliation with Ukraine is “inevitable,” though negotiations remain deadlocked.
The Russian president’s comments on nuclear weapons follow changes to Russia’s doctrine in late 2024, which lowered the threshold for their use in response to conventional attacks backed by nuclear-armed powers.
Meanwhile, attacks continue on both sides. Ukraine reported fresh civilian casualties from Russian airstrikes Sunday, while Russia claimed to have downed 13 Ukrainian drones.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ