Putin calls possible transfer of nuclear weapons to Kiev a non-proliferation violation

If any country transfers nuclear weapons to Ukraine, it will violate its commitments on non-proliferation of such weapons. Russian President Vladimir Putin said this at a press conference following his state visit to Kazakhstan on 28 November.

"If officially someone will transfer something, then it will be a violation of all the commitments undertaken in the field of non-proliferation of means of mass destruction," the president said.

He emphasized that statements about the transfer of nuclear weapons to Kiev can only be made by irresponsible people who are not responsible for anything and do not feel any responsibility for the fate of their own countries and the world as a whole.

The head of state pointed out that Russia would not allow nuclear weapons to appear in Ukraine. In addition, if Kiev gets them, Moscow will use all means of defeat at its disposal and monitor every step of the enemy.

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Earlier in the day, the White House said in response to a question from Newsweek magazine that the United States was not going to transfer nuclear weapons to Ukraine.

On November 26, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the statements of those Western officials who suggest transferring nuclear weapons to Kiev irresponsible reasoning. Peskov believes that these people have a poor grasp of reality and do not feel responsible, while the idea of making Ukraine a nuclear power belongs to the "extremely extremist flank".

Putin approved an updated nuclear doctrine on Nov. 19. It includes the amendments announced in September. In particular, for the first time a definition of a potential adversary against whom Russia is conducting nuclear deterrence is introduced.

Peskov later clarified that the measure brings the norms in this area in line with the current situation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, for his part, noted that Russia is strictly committed to the position of preventing nuclear war and defends a world in which nuclear weapons should never be used.