Municipal workers clean up around burnt cars in the residential area following Russia’s drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Municipal workers clean up burnt cars in the residential area following Russia’s drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Municipal workers clean up near burnt cars and a crater made by a drone in the residential area following Russia’s air raid in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Municipal workers clean up near burnt cars in the residential area following Russia’s drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
A resident looks out of the broken window in an apartment house following Russia’s drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Putin says he hopes there will be no need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in comments broadcast Sunday that the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine had not arisen and that he hopes it will not.
Municipal workers clean up around burnt cars in the residential area following Russia’s drone attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in comments broadcast Sunday that the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine had not arisen and that he hopes it will not.
In a preview of an upcoming interview with Russian state television, published on Telegram, Putin said Russia has the strength and the means to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a 鈥渓ogical conclusion.鈥
Responding to a question about Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory, Putin said: 鈥淭here has been no need to use those (nuclear) weapons ... and I hope they will not be required.鈥
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
鈥淲e have enough strength and means to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the outcome Russia requires,鈥 he said.
Putin a revamped version of Russia鈥檚 in November 2024, spelling out the circumstances that allow him to use Moscow鈥檚 atomic arsenal, the world鈥檚 largest.
That version lowered the bar, giving him that option in response to even a conventional attack backed by a nuclear power.
Russia and Ukraine are at odds over competing ceasefire proposals.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday, in comments made public Saturday, that Moscow鈥檚 announcement of a 72-hour ceasefire next week in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in World War II is merely an attempt to create a 鈥渟oft atmosphere鈥 ahead of Russia鈥檚 annual celebrations.
Zelenskyy instead renewed calls for a more substantial as the U.S. had initially proposed. He said the proposed ceasefire could start anytime as a meaningful step toward ending the war.
Putin on Monday declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in World War II as the U.S. presses for a deal to end the . The Kremlin said the truce, ordered on 鈥渉umanitarian grounds,鈥 will run from the start of May 8 and last through the end of May 10 to mark Moscow鈥檚 defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 鈥 .
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Meanwhile, 11 people were wounded in a Russian drone attack overnight on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, Ukraine鈥檚 State Emergency Service said Sunday. Two children were among the wounded.
Russia fired a total of 165 exploding drones and decoys overnight, Ukraine鈥檚 air force said. Of those, 69 were intercepted and a further 80 lost, likely having been electronically jammed. Russia also launched two ballistic missiles.
Russia鈥檚 Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 13 Ukrainian drones overnight.
