During a meeting with BRICS media, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed Moscow’s willingness to engage in talks to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Putin warned that nuclear weapons development is not particularly difficult, suggesting Ukraine might consider this if denied NATO membership. He called it a dangerous provocation, saying any steps in this direction would provoke a response.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied plans to develop nuclear arms, urging accurate information amid media reports. Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s desire to join NATO, citing the Budapest Memorandum, under which Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal for security guarantees.
Putin also supported peace proposals from China and Brazil but ruled out concessions on the four Ukrainian regions annexed by Moscow in 2022.
