Ukraine denies allegations of developing weapons of mass destruction
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses media during a press conference with NATO Secretary General at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, on October 17, 2024. (AFP Photo)
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry refuted reports on Thursday alleging that Ukraine has plans to develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD), responding to claims published by German media.
“We officially deny the insinuations of unnamed sources in the BILD publication regarding Ukraine’s alleged plans to develop weapons of mass destruction,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi in a statement posted on the ministry’s website.
The denial comes after BILD, a German news outlet, cited a Ukrainian high-ranking official, claiming that Kyiv could potentially build a nuclear weapon “in a few weeks.” The report, which quickly garnered international attention, implied that Ukraine might be capable of rapidly reviving a nuclear weapons program.
Tykhyi, however, firmly rejected the report, underscoring Ukraine’s longstanding commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). “Ukraine has been and remains a committed party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), to which it acceded in 1994, having renounced the world’s third most powerful military nuclear capability,” he said.
The spokesman further emphasized Ukraine’s dedication to global security frameworks. “Ukraine is convinced that the NPT remains the cornerstone of the global international security architecture,” Tykhyi said. “Ukraine continues to comply with the provisions of the NPT and remains a responsible participant in the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.”
The BILD article was published shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remarked during a visit to Brussels that his country needs “either nuclear weapons or membership of NATO,” highlighting Ukraine’s ongoing security concerns amid its conflict with Russia.
Zelenskyy’s comments have prompted renewed debate about Ukraine’s defense posture as the country seeks greater security guarantees from Western allies. However, Tykhyi’s statement reaffirms Ukraine’s adherence to its non-nuclear commitments despite the heightened rhetoric surrounding its security needs.
