Russia’s Putin says West tried to provoke him into using nuclear weapons in Ukraine

The Russian president and his leadership have repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine and its allies

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Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Sputnik via EPA-EFE

Published: 7:43am, 6 May 2025Updated: 3:34pm, 6 May 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of trying to provoke him into using nuclear weapons in Ukraine, in comments in a Russian state television documentary film about his 25 years in power.

“They wanted to provoke us, they wanted to make us make mistakes,” he said in the film Russia. Kremlin. Putin. 25 years. However, there was no need to use nuclear weapons, the Russian leader said. “And I hope that this will not be necessary in the future either.”

Russia has sufficient forces and means to achieve everything that was necessary for Moscow in the military operation that began in 2022, Putin said, referring to the year the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Putin and his leadership have repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine and its allies during the war.

A Russian nuclear-capable strategic bomber. File photo: Russian Defence Ministry via AP

The US government was under the impression that Moscow could be preparing to drop a nuclear bomb in the autumn of 2022, according to reports. Washington delivered a stern warning to Russia through diplomatic channels at the time.