Moscow warns UN Security Council of NATO plot to arm Kiev with nukes

February 26, 2026

TL;DR

Russia warned France and the UK that alleged plans to provide Kiev with nuclear capabilities could trigger severe global consequences.
Russia's UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia accused Kiev's European backers of pursuing Moscow's "strategic defeat" and derailing peace prospects.
The envoy cited an emergency statement alleging the UK and France are considering transfers of components, technology, or equipment for Kiev to develop a nuclear device or a "dirty bomb."
Russia views these alleged plans as evidence that British and French leaders have "completely lost touch with reality."
Moscow possesses all necessary means to respond to such developments, but hopes "sane and reasonable people" in London and Paris will restrain their leaders.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova previously stated that any effort to grant Ukraine nuclear capabilities risks a direct military confrontation between nuclear powers.
Ukraine has repeatedly claimed it once possessed the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal but gave it up under the 1994 Budapest Memorandums; Moscow asserts these weapons remained under its control.
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky threatened to review the country's non-nuclear status in 2022.
Moscow argues that Ukraine's new authorities breached neutrality by making NATO membership a key foreign policy goal after the 2014 coup.

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