Trump envoy reacts to Zelensky’s nuclear arms request

(MENAFN) Keith Kellogg, the U.S. envoy to Ukraine and Russia, dismissed Ukraine’s recent demand for nuclear weapons, stating, "It's not going to happen." Speaking to Fox News Digital, Kellogg responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s call for nuclear weapons and missile systems, emphasizing that the chances of Ukraine regaining nuclear arms were extremely unlikely. He described the idea of arming Ukraine with nuclear weapons as "against common sense" and something the trump administration would not consider.

Zelensky had earlier expressed the need for nuclear weapons or missile systems to bolster Ukraine’s defense against Russia. He also urged faster NATO membership for Ukraine or more advanced weaponry to help "stop Russia." His request follows his earlier regret about Ukraine’s decision to give up its nuclear arsenal after the Soviet Union’s collapse in exchange for security guarantees under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.

While Zelensky has raised the issue of nuclear weapons multiple times, Russia firmly denies that Ukraine ever had its own nuclear weapons, asserting that Moscow remained the legal owner. Russian officials also point out that the 1994 Memorandum envisioned Ukraine's neutral status, which they argue has been undermined by NATO’s eastward expansion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it clear that if Ukraine pursued nuclear weapons, Russia would take all necessary actions to neutralize the threat.

MENAFN08022025000045015687ID1109183740