According to The New York Times, The U.S. weighs nuclear options for Ukraine to deter Russia from seizing more Ukrainian territory, including the possibility of providing Ukraine with nuclear weapons. Western leaders believe the Kremlin is unlikely to escalate the conflict significantly until after Donald Trump takes office in January, giving them time to pursue more aggressive actions in support of Kyiv.
Following Trump’s recent election victory, the US and its NATO allies began ramping up military support for Ukraine, including supplying long-range weapons capable of striking targets deep within Russian territory. However, US intelligence assessments suggest that these measures will not have a significant impact on the course of the war in the short term. Officials briefed on intelligence reports have indicated that accelerating weapons shipments will do little to alter Ukraine’s difficult position.
In an effort to strengthen Ukraine’s position before Biden’s administration transitions, US officials have been exploring several escalation options, including providing Ukraine with deterrence capabilities, such as a conventional military stockpile that could strike severe blows to Russia if a ceasefire were violated. Some officials even suggested that the US could consider returning nuclear weapons to Ukraine, which were removed after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The idea of reintroducing nuclear weapons to Ukraine comes at a time when US officials believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin may refrain from further escalation until Trump takes office. They argue that with Trump’s upcoming leadership, the risk of provoking full-scale Russian retaliation is diminished. This assumption is based on the expectation that Trump and his incoming Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, will adopt a less confrontational stance toward Russia. However, Trump’s first term saw him impose heavy sanctions on Moscow, send lethal arms to Ukraine, and expel numerous Russian diplomats—actions that do not fit the narrative of him being “pro-Russia.”
The discussion of providing Ukraine with nuclear capabilities, however, is highly controversial. Such a move would likely provoke a severe global response, with Russia almost certainly retaliating against the countries supplying nuclear arms to Ukraine. Experts warn that introducing nuclear weapons into the conflict could escalate the situation to a point where full-scale nuclear war becomes a real possibility. Russian retaliation would likely target both Ukrainian assets and those of Western nations that have supported Ukraine’s military efforts.
The prospect of Ukraine obtaining nuclear weapons is seen as extremely provocative. Not only would it likely trigger a military response from Russia, but it would also strain relations with other nuclear powers, increasing the risk of a broader, uncontrollable global conflict. The consequences of such a decision could push the world dangerously close to nuclear war.
