Putin Accuses West of Provoking Nuclear Threat in Ukraine

In a new Russian state television documentary marking his 25 years in power, President Vladimir Putin accused the West of attempting to provoke Russia into using nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Putin stated that despite repeated Western provocations, Russia has not found it necessary to resort to nuclear arms and hopes this will not be required in the future. He asserted that Russia possesses sufficient military strength to achieve its objectives in Ukraine, framing the ongoing conflict as a response to NATO expansion and Western pressure. Reports indicate that the U.S. government believed Moscow might use nuclear weapons in late 2022, prompting a stern diplomatic warning to Russia. The documentary also highlighted Putin’s justification for Russia’s actions in Ukraine and offered glimpses of his personal life within the Kremlin.