Monday, May 5, 2025 - Russian President, Vladimir Putin has said there is currently no need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, adding that he “hopes” such measures will not be necessary as the war enters its third year.
In a documentary aired by the state-run Rossiya 1 television
channel on Sunday, May 4—marking his 25 years in power, Putin reaffirmed
Russia’s military capability and stated his country has “enough strength and
means” to bring the conflict to what he called a “logical conclusion with the
outcome Russia requires.
Asked by journalist Pavel Zarubin whether Russia would
respond to Ukrainian attacks on its territory with nuclear force, Putin
replied: “There has been no need to use those [nuclear] weapons … and I hope
they will not be required.”
His remarks came ahead of a unilaterally declared three-day
ceasefire from May 8–10, announced by Moscow to commemorate the 80th
anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
Putin presented the ceasefire as a test of Ukraine’s willingness to consider
long-term peace, though previous overtures have failed to yield results.
Earlier this year, Russia dismissed a joint proposal from
Kyiv and Washington for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, citing what it called
“unrealistic preconditions.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed deep
doubts about Moscow's intentions. Speaking during a visit to the Czech
Republic, Zelenskyy said he had “no belief” that Russia would honor the
ceasefire.
“This is not the first time Russia has promised to halt
fire, only to continue its attacks,” Zelenskyy said at a joint press conference
with Czech President Petr Pavel.
“Today’s military report shows Russia launched over 200
assaults on Saturday alone—the highest in recent months.”
Pavel, a former NATO general, added that Russia could end
the war with “a single decision” by Putin, but noted that the Kremlin had shown
no genuine “willingness” to pursue peace.
Even as ceasefire discussions surface, fighting continues
across multiple fronts. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched two
ballistic missiles and a total of 165 aerial threats including drones and
decoys overnight. Of these, 69 were intercepted and 80 likely neutralized
through electronic jamming.
Tragically, two people were killed in Russian strikes on Sunday, one each in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions, Ukrainian officials confirmed. A drone strike on the capital, Kyiv, left 11 people injured, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.
On the other side, Russia’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted 13 Ukrainian drones overnight. Meanwhile, in Russia’s Bryansk region, officials said a Ukrainian strike destroyed much of an electrical equipment factory near the border, though no casualties were reported.
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