### Ukraine Refutes Claims of Nuclear Weapon Development, Reaffirms Commitment to NPT

Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has categorically refuted any claims that it intends to develop nuclear weapons, emphasizing its staunch adherence to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The ministry's response comes after a Times report suggested that Ukraine could develop a basic nuclear device within months, potentially utilizing plutonium from its nuclear reactors' spent fuel rods.

The Times report, citing a document reportedly prepared for Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, speculated that the nation could produce a weapon akin to the bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945, particularly if U.S. military support wanes. This claim has raised concerns, given Ukraine’s historical context with nuclear weapons.

Ukraine, a signatory of the NPT since it opened for signatures in 1968 and entered into force in 1970, had the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal following the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. However, Ukraine chose to relinquish these weapons, signing the Budapest Memorandum on 5 December 1994 with the US, UK, and Russia. This agreement provided Ukraine with security assurances in exchange for surrendering its nuclear arsenal.

Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reiterated Ukraine's transparent cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). He stated on social media platform X, "Ukraine closely cooperates with the IAEA and is fully transparent to its monitoring, which excludes the use of nuclear materials for military purposes."

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the issue during an October press conference in Brussels, reflecting on his discussion with then-US presidential candidate Donald Trump. Zelenskyy asserted the nation's preference for NATO membership over nuclear armament, saying, "Ukraine needs either nuclear weapons or NATO membership for protection," and clarifying the country’s choice of NATO.

Despite these reassurances, German publication BILD reported claims from an unnamed senior Ukrainian official suggesting that Ukraine was seriously contemplating restoring its nuclear arsenal. The official reportedly claimed, "We have the materials, we know. If ordered, we would need just a few weeks to obtain the first bomb." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly dismissed these statements as mere insinuations.

As international scrutiny continues, Ukraine remains firm in its commitment to non-proliferation and the pursuit of security through diplomatic and cooperative means rather than nuclear rearmament.