Ukraine reaffirms denial of any nuclear weapons ambitions

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine has reiterated its denial of any intentions to develop nuclear weapons amid media reports suggesting Kyiv could potentially create such arms “within months” if the US halts its military aid to the embattled country.

“Ukraine is committed to the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty); we do not possess, develop, or intend to acquire nuclear weapons,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said in a statement on X late Wednesday.

Tykhyi added that Ukraine is working closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is fully transparent to its monitoring, which he said “rules out the use of nuclear materials for military purposes.”

Earlier Wednesday, The Times of London reported that Ukraine could potentially develop nuclear weapons “within months” if the US were to halt its military aid under President-elect Donald J. Trump – who is set to take office on Jan. 6 – citing a document from a Ukrainian think tank.

Last month, Tykhyi rebuffed a similar report by German daily Bild on his country’s alleged plans to develop weapons of mass destruction.