Ukraine, EU should consider joint development of nuclear weapons – Horbulin

Volodymyr Horbulin, First Vice President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and a Hero of Ukraine, believes that Ukraine and Europe should already begin considering the joint development of nuclear weapons.

He expressed this opinion in an interview with Ukrinform for “Ihor Dolhov Program.”

“The simplest path Europe and Ukraine could take together is the creation of joint nuclear weapons development projects. It seems to me that Ukraine’s foundation and, I would say, creative potential could significantly contribute to helping both France and Germany create a European nuclear weapon. I am not calling for this, but it is something that must be considered. It may not happen today – it is a distant future – but it could become tomorrow’s reality,” Horbulin said.

He recalled that the political leadership of both France and the United Kingdom had stated that their current nuclear capabilities were insufficient to counter Russia.

At the same time, Horbulin noted that Ukraine once played a major role in the development of missile systems, including nuclear delivery vehicles, and therefore could have significant potential in the creation of nuclear weapons.

As reported by Ukrinform, on April 10, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons, Ukraine was supposed to receive a security umbrella, calling the guarantees it received at the time “a dishonest game and a major mistake.”

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced talks with several European countries, as well as plans to strengthen France’s nuclear arsenal. France, which currently possesses about 290 nuclear warheads, intends to increase that number.

On March 2, France and Germany announced plans to deepen cooperation with European NATO partners on nuclear deterrence amid growing threats from Russia and instability linked to the conflict involving Iran.