Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has stated that there has been no necessity so far to resort to nuclear weapons in the war with Ukraine, expressing hope that such an option will remain unnecessary.
His remarks were shared Sunday in a preview clip of an upcoming interview with Russian state media, released via Telegram.
“There has been no need to use those (nuclear) weapons … and I hope they will not be required,” Putin said, responding to a question about Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory.
Reaffirming Moscow’s determination, he added, “We have enough strength and means to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the outcome Russia requires.”
In November 2024, Putin endorsed an updated version of Russia’s nuclear policy, broadening the scenarios that could justify deploying nuclear arms.
The revision notably permits a nuclear response even to a conventional military threat if it is backed by a nuclear-armed nation.
Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions persist as both Kyiv and Moscow advance conflicting proposals for a ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday, in comments revealed a day later, dismissed Moscow’s declaration of a short-term truce.
He described the 72-hour pause, set to coincide with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations, as a superficial attempt to shape public sentiment.
“Moscow’s announcement … is merely an attempt to create a ‘soft atmosphere’ ahead of Russia’s annual celebrations,” Zelenskyy said.
Instead, he reiterated his support for a U.S.-backed plan calling for a comprehensive 30-day cessation of hostilities, emphasizing that such a move could begin immediately and serve as a genuine step toward peace.
On Monday, Putin unilaterally announced the 72-hour ceasefire, describing it as a humanitarian gesture tied to the May 9 Victory Day marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.
According to the Kremlin, the truce would begin on May 8 and run through May 10.
Yet even as ceasefire discussions unfold, the violence on the ground continues. Ukraine’s emergency services reported that 11 people were injured in a Russian drone assault on Kyiv overnight, including two children.
Among those affected was 83-year-old Valentyna Fesiuk from the Obolon district of Kyiv.
“I was just sleeping when the house shook. It was at 12:30. An apartment on the 12th floor caught fire,” she told The Associated Press.
Another resident, 54-year-old Viacheslav Khotab, watched his car engulfed in flames.
“I saw my car burning. I was covered with broken glass,” he recounted. “I couldn’t do anything.”
Expressing his dismay over the lack of diplomatic progress, Khotab said, “They can’t agree on anything, and we are the ones who suffer the consequences.”
Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 165 drones and decoys during the attack.
Of those, 69 were intercepted and 80 were lost, likely due to electronic jamming. Additionally, Russia fired two ballistic missiles.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that its air defense systems downed 13 Ukrainian drones in response.
At the heart of the ongoing talks is Crimea, a region central to both sides’ demands, underscoring the complexity of finding a path toward lasting peace.
