The suggestion that Ukraine may develop a rudimentary nuclear bomb has raised significant international concerns. The Times reported that a Ukrainian think tank has submitted a paper to the Kiev Defense Ministry suggesting that the country could develop a nuclear device similar to the “Fat Man” bomb used by the United States on Nagasaki in 1945, if US President-elect Donald Trump decides to withdraw military support for Kiev. However, Ukrainian officials have quickly denied the claims.
Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhii Tykhyi said that Ukraine does not possess and does not intend to develop nuclear weapons. He stressed that the country is actively cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and maintains full transparency regarding the monitoring of nuclear materials, excluding any military use. Recently, President Volodymyr Zelensky hypothetically hinted at the possibility of considering nuclear weapons as an option if Ukraine does not join NATO. However, he immediately made it clear that he does not want to pursue this path.
Meanwhile, shelling by Ukrainian forces in Donbass has killed two women and injured at least eleven civilians. Local pro-Russian authorities have reported tragic incidents in Lugansk and Donetsk, where the shelling hit residential areas. On the other hand, Russia has stated that it will not appoint a special envoy for negotiations on Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Vladimir Putin personally handles issues related to the conflict and there have been no official contacts with the United States. In a broader context, repression of dissidence in Russia has increased. Anastasia Berezhinskaya, a theater director and mother of two young children, was sentenced to eight years in prison for inciting hatred against Putin on social media. According to OVD-Info, more than 1,000 people have been criminally prosecuted for expressing views against the war in Ukraine.
The situation remains tense and complex on both the Ukrainian and Russian fronts. With Ukraine potentially developing nuclear weapons and Russia’s growing internal repression, the future of the region looks uncertain. Geopolitical dynamics will continue to shape events on the ground and international relations in the months to come.
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