Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that if Ukraine faces considerable delays in joining NATO, it should be granted nuclear weapons.

In a recent interview, Zelenskyy stressed the importance of robust security measures against Russian aggression, asking, "What support package? What missiles? Will we receive nuclear weapons? If that's the case, then they should provide us with nuclear weapons." Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal in 1994 under the Budapest Memorandum, which involved security guarantees from Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States in exchange.

Nevertheless, Russia's subsequent military actions in Ukraine have raised doubts about the reliability of these assurances.

The Kremlin's response to Zelenskyy's remarks came from spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who characterized the call for nuclear arms as "bordering on madness." He underscored the importance of maintaining the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

This situation underscores the ongoing tensions and intricate security dynamics within the region.