Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, tensions between NATO countries and the Kremlin have continued, with NATO leaders increasingly warning that direct conflict with Moscow is a realistic possibility. This comes after Putin and senior Russian officials have repeatedly threatened a nuclear escalation in the war against Kyiv and its Western partners.

Vladimir Putin responded to the comments of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who expressed on Thursday that his country faces two choices: either join NATO or develop nuclear weapons. "Russia will not allow this to happen,

Putin was referring to Zelenskyy's suggestion that Kyiv would seek nuclear weapons if it could not join NATO. Zelenskyy has walked back his comments.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the hints by the Ukrainian leadership regarding the possible production of nuclear weapons as a "dangerous provocation." He said any step in this direction would "provoke an appropriate response.