Russia will use ‘all kinds of weapons’ if Ukraine gets nukes, Putin warns

Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning on Thursday, stating that any transfer of nuclear weapons to Ukraine by the West would trigger a response from Russia using “all means of destruction” at its disposal.

Speaking at a press conference in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, Putin emphasized Russia’s determination to prevent Ukraine from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“In this case, if Ukraine gets nuclear arms from the West, we will use everything, I want to emphasize this, all means of destruction at Russia’s disposal,” Putin stated. He added that Russia would not allow such a scenario to unfold.

His comments came after U.S. media reports suggested some American and European officials were advocating for the provision of nuclear weapons to Ukraine. Putin condemned the idea, labeling those in favor of the move as “irresponsible,” claiming they lacked a sense of responsibility for the well-being of their own countries and peoples.

“Such a move would violate all international nuclear non-proliferation agreements,” Putin warned, noting that it would grant Ukraine the status of a nuclear state with grave consequences.

On the possibility of Ukraine creating nuclear weapons independently, Putin expressed skepticism, suggesting that Kyiv could only produce a “dirty bomb,” which contains nuclear components but lacks the full capacity of a nuclear weapon.

‘Anything is possible,’ warns Putin

Regarding recent tensions, Putin revealed that Ukraine had twice attacked Russia’s Kursk region with U.S.-made ATACAMS missiles following Russia’s use of the new Oreshnik ballistic missile in Ukraine.

Asked about potential retaliatory strikes targeting Ukraine’s decision-making centers using Oreshnik missiles, Putin responded, “Anything is possible.”

Putin also detailed the Oreshnik missile’s capabilities, likening its power to that of a meteorite strike, able to destroy deeply buried targets. He highlighted that Russia continues to develop such missiles, recognizing their potential to enhance its military position.

On the diplomatic front, Putin indicated that several Western leaders were seeking to resume talks with him regarding the conflict in Ukraine and broader European issues. He reiterated his openness to resolving the conflict through diplomacy, clarifying that his peace proposal for Ukraine in June was not a set of preconditions for talks, but rather his terms for peace.

In response to questions about his expectations from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, Putin praised Trump as a “clever and experienced man” who could find solutions to pressing problems, especially given the challenges he faced during the election campaign, including two assassination attempts. Putin stated that Trump remains at risk, given the “absolutely uncivilized means” used against him.