President Volodymyr Zelensky believes that the nuclear threat from the Russian Federation may become a reality.
He said this in an interview with CBS.
“Look, maybe it was a bluff yesterday. Now it can become a reality," he said, answering a journalistʼs question about whether Russiaʼs Putin is bluffing by threatening Ukraine with nuclear weapons.
In this context, Zelensky mentioned the constant shelling of the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which is located in Energodar, temporarily occupied by Russia. And also about the attacks on the South Ukrainian nuclear power plant.
"The rocket hit an area 300 meters from the NPP. The nuclear plant has lost all its windows and doors... This is how he [Putin] wants to scare the whole world. These are the first steps of his nuclear blackmail. I donʼt think heʼs bluffing," Zelensky said.
According to the President of Ukraine, the world is restraining this threat.
"We must continue to put pressure on him and not allow him to continue," Zelensky emphasized.
- On September 21, Putin announced a partial mobilization in Russia, supported the holding of pseudo-referendums in the occupied territories of Ukraine and threatened nuclear weapons in the event of an attack on the Russian Federation. In fact, he hinted at the possibility of nuclear strikes if the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued to liberate the occupied territories.
- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Putinʼs threat is "dangerous and reckless".
- On September 21, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he doubts that Russia will use nuclear weapons.
- On September 25, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the administration of President Joe Biden privately told the Kremlin that any use of nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine would have "catastrophic consequences" for Russia.