Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, tensions between NATO countries and the Kremlin have continued, with NATO leaders increasingly warning that direct conflict with Moscow is a realistic possibility. This comes after Putin and senior Russian officials have repeatedly threatened a nuclear escalation in the war against Kyiv and its Western partners.

Vladimir Putin has vowed to prevent Ukraine from acquiring nuclear weapons after Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that his military no longer uses the Soviet arsenal, as Kyiv seeks to join NATO. The Russian leader warned that if Ukraine manages to develop a significant nuclear arsenal,

Russian President Vladimir Putin is concerned about rumors of Ukraine allegedly planning to develop nuclear weapons. He threatened that Russia "will not allow" such a scenario, according to Meduza. Putin mentioned that he considers the discussions about the potential creation of nuclear weapons in Ukraine to be a provocation.