Putin\u2019s remarks come amid stalled peace efforts and increasing battlefield tension
\n Moscow
\nRussian President Vladimir Putin said he hopes nuclear weapons will not be needed in the war in Ukraine, despite claiming Russia has the strength to achieve its goals.
\nThe comments aired Sunday in a state television documentary marking his 25 years in power.
\n\u201cThere has been no need to use those weapons\u2026 and I hope they will not be required,\u201d Putin said in response to a question about Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory.
\nHe added that Russia has \u201cenough strength and means to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the outcome Russia requires.\u201d
\nPutin\u2019s remarks come amid stalled peace efforts and increasing battlefield tension.
\nUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday reiterated a call for a 30-day ceasefire, while criticizing Moscow\u2019s proposed 72-hour truce around Victory Day as symbolic and ineffective.
\nZelensky said Ukraine remains open to peace but that Russia continues its assaults even during declared ceasefires, citing recent drone and missile attacks on Kyiv that injured 11 people.
\nHe expressed skepticism over Russia\u2019s truce offers, calling them a \u201ctheatrical performance.\u201d
\nPutin also addressed the war\u2019s origins, claiming Russia did not escalate in 2014 due to its unreadiness for a \u201cfrontal confrontation\u201d with the West.
\nHe reiterated his view that reconciliation with Ukraine is \u201cinevitable,\u201d though negotiations remain deadlocked.
\nThe Russian president\u2019s comments on nuclear weapons follow changes to Russia\u2019s doctrine in late 2024, which lowered the threshold for their use in response to conventional attacks backed by nuclear-armed powers.
\nMeanwhile, attacks continue on both sides. Ukraine reported fresh civilian casualties from Russian airstrikes Sunday, while Russia claimed to have downed 13 Ukrainian drones.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Putin\u2019s remarks come amid stalled peace efforts and increasing battlefield tension Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin said he hopes nuclear weapons will not be needed in the war in Ukraine, despite claiming Russia has the strength to achieve its goals. The comments aired Sunday in a state television documentary marking his 25 years in power. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":476663,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-476639","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n