11/18/2024 / By Richard Brown
Ukraine has denied reports suggesting it could develop a nuclear weapon soon, following claims by a Ukrainian military think tank.
The report, published by the Ukrainian think tank and nongovernmental organization the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies, claimed that Kyiv could use spent nuclear fuel from its remaining nuclear reactors to create a rudimentary nuclear bomb.
The think tank’s paper, which was reportedly shared with defense officials in Kyiv, argued that if Ukraine lost Western support, developing a basic nuclear bomb could act as a deterrent or bargaining chip in the ongoing conflict with Russia. The report estimated that Ukraine’s nuclear reactors could produce enough plutonium to build “hundreds of warheads” with a tactical yield of several kilotons.
The think tank argued that creating a simple atomic bomb would not be difficult, citing advances in technology since World War II’s Manhattan Project. However, Ukraine has made it clear that it is not pursuing such capabilities, noting that its relationship with the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) ensures its nuclear activities remain peaceful and transparent.
Despite the relatively small size of such rudimentary nuclear weapons, the paper claimed it would be capable of destroying key Russian military facilities, such as airbases or logistics hubs.
Oleksii Yizhak, the report’s author, argued that even a small nuclear device could have significant strategic value. “That would be enough to destroy an entire Russian airbase or concentrated military, industrial or logistics installations,” he said.
Valentyn Badrak, the director of the think tank, described the war with Russia as an existential struggle for Ukraine.
“If the Russians take Ukraine, millions of Ukrainians will be killed under occupation,” he said. “There are millions of us who would rather face death than go to the gulags.”
Despite the think tank’s claims, Ukraine’s government swiftly rejected the idea of pursuing nuclear weapons.
Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated the country’s commitment to non-proliferation, stating: “We do not possess, develop or intend to acquire nuclear weapons.” (Related: Zelensky tries to bully NATO into letting Ukraine join, or he threatens to acquire nuclear weapons.)
Tykhyi emphasized that Ukraine works closely with the IAEA and is fully transparent about its nuclear activities, ruling out the use of nuclear materials for military purposes.
“Ukraine’s security is guaranteed through international cooperation, and we remain committed to our obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,” Tykhyi added.
Speculation surrounding Ukraine’s nuclear options intensified in October when President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked that Ukraine might need to pursue nuclear capabilities or join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for protection.
Although Zelensky later clarified that Ukraine was not seeking nuclear weapons, his comments highlighted the security challenges the country faces amid Russia’s invasion.
In 1994, Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal under the Budapest Memorandum in exchange for security guarantees from the U.S., the United Kingdom and Russia. However, Kyiv views these guarantees as being widely ineffective in light of the fact that Moscow has already claimed and occupied a significant portion of internationally recognized Ukrainian territory.
Watch this clip of Alex Jones warning that the West may give Ukraine nuclear weapons.
This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com.
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