### Putin Threatens Full Force if Ukraine Acquires Nuclear Weapons

During a press conference in Astana, Kazakhstan, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stern warning, stating that Russia would utilize all its available weapons against Ukraine if the latter were to obtain nuclear arms. This statement comes in response to reports suggesting that some Western officials had proposed the idea of U.S. President Joe Biden providing Ukraine with nuclear weapons before his term ends.

"If the country which we are essentially at war with now becomes a nuclear power, what do we do?" Putin questioned. "In this case, we will use all, I want to emphasize this, precisely all means of destruction available to Russia. Everything: we will not allow it. We'll be watching their every move."

Putin highlighted that transferring nuclear weapons to Ukraine would breach non-proliferation commitments made by involved parties. He also assessed the practical difficulties for Ukraine to produce a nuclear weapon independently but raised concerns about the possibility of Ukraine constructing a "dirty bomb." Such a device, although not a true nuclear weapon, would spread radioactive contamination using conventional explosives. Putin affirmed that Russia would respond appropriately to any such threat.

Previously, Russia has made several claims, though without concrete evidence, suggesting that Ukraine might resort to using a dirty bomb. It is noteworthy that after the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991, Ukraine inherited nuclear weapons but relinquished them under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. In return, Ukraine received security assurances from Russia, the United States, and Britain.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has frequently criticized the agreement, arguing that it left Ukraine defenseless. Citing this vulnerability, Zelenskiy has pushed for Ukraine's admission to NATO, a move that has been met with strong opposition from Moscow.