10-17-2024, 01:14 PM
https://www.newsweek.com/nato-ukraine-me...ls-1970816
Zelensky saying that if Ukraine is not admitted into NATO, they will pursue their own nuclear weapons.
Hard to say how possible this is on a realistic time frame. On the one hand, Ukraine has had nukes before, has an advanced defense industry, and at least a few active nuclear power plants so presumably can access fissile materials. On the other hand, certainly not something where you can flip a switch and build nukes plus a compatible delivery system. Undoubtedly building a program would require importing a lot of western components/tech, which the US/Nato could throw up road blocks for.
To me it feels like a tactic designed to get more conventional western support and a path to NATO, but one they feel forced to follow through on if western support wanes. At the very least it is another negotiating point they can use in their favor during any negotiated settlement.
Zelensky saying that if Ukraine is not admitted into NATO, they will pursue their own nuclear weapons.
Hard to say how possible this is on a realistic time frame. On the one hand, Ukraine has had nukes before, has an advanced defense industry, and at least a few active nuclear power plants so presumably can access fissile materials. On the other hand, certainly not something where you can flip a switch and build nukes plus a compatible delivery system. Undoubtedly building a program would require importing a lot of western components/tech, which the US/Nato could throw up road blocks for.
To me it feels like a tactic designed to get more conventional western support and a path to NATO, but one they feel forced to follow through on if western support wanes. At the very least it is another negotiating point they can use in their favor during any negotiated settlement.