KEY POINTS
- Russia accuses Britain and France of planning to supply Ukraine with nuclear weapons.
- Russian intelligence agency alleges London and Paris were considering covert transfers of nuclear components.
- Moscow said such a move would violate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
- UK rejects the claims, calling them false and distraction from Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
- Putin warned that any nuclear-related attack on Russia would have serious consequences.
- Britain, France and Germany reaffirmed “unwavering commitment” to Ukraine and pledged continued support.
MOSCOW: Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) on Tuesday accused Britain and France of “actively working” on plans to supply Ukraine with nuclear weapons, a claim swiftly denied by London.
The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, in a statement carried by Russian media, alleged that the two NATO powers were “actively working” on plans to provide Kyiv with a nuclear bomb or a so-called “dirty bomb”, along with delivery systems.
“It is believed that Ukraine needs to be supplied with a ‘wonder weapon’,” the SVR said.
“Kyiv will be able to claim more favourable terms for ending hostilities if it possesses an atomic bomb, or at least a so-called ‘dirty’ bomb,” the Russian intelligence service stated.
The agency claimed London and Paris were discussing the covert transfer of European components, equipment and nuclear-related technologies to Ukraine.
It said one option under consideration was the French TN75 miniaturised warhead, deployed on the M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile.
The SVR asserted that such plans would violate the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and risk dismantling the global non-proliferation regime.
It alleged that Western officials were seeking to present any emergence of nuclear capability in Ukraine as the result of domestic development.
Swift denial from London
Downing Street dismissed the allegations as false.
The British prime minister’s official spokesperson said the claims were “a clear attempt by Vladimir Putin to distract” from Russia’s actions in Ukraine and that there was “no truth” in them.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he was “very sceptical” about the prospects for short-term peace in Ukraine, accusing Russia of lacking willingness to end the war.
“It is good to continue these peace talk initiatives, but there is no willingness on the Russian side to achieve peace,” Macron said.
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Germany, named by the SVR as having “wisely refused to participate”, has not commented directly on the intelligence claims.
Kremlin warnings
The accusations come as Moscow and Kyiv marked the fourth anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war.
Speaking at a board meeting of the FSB security service, President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow’s adversaries understood how any attack on Russia “using a nuclear element” could end.
Putin also accused Ukraine and Western intelligence agencies of being behind what he described as “terror” attacks inside Russia.
He alleged that Kyiv had placed its bet on terrorism after failing to defeat Russia on the battlefield.
The Kremlin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that Moscow would inform the United States about Ukrainian attempts to obtain nuclear weapons.
He said any such move would affect Russia’s position on Ukraine.
Western countries reaffirm support for Ukraine
Meanwhile, Britain, France and Germany reiterated what they described as their “unwavering commitment” to achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine following a meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing”.
In a joint statement, the three leaders reaffirmed their intention to provide multi-layered security guarantees for Ukraine.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said allies needed to “shift the narrative” that Russia was winning the conflict.
“Whatever Putin tells himself and his people, Russia is not winning,” Starmer said, adding that Russia had suffered heavy casualties while gaining limited territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv urgently needed additional US-made Patriot air defence interceptors, including PAC-2 and PAC-3 missiles, to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks.
UN chief call for immediate truce
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the longer the war continued “the deadlier it becomes”.
“I reiterate my call for an immediate, full and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards a just, lasting and comprehensive peace,” Guterres wrote on social media.
He said any peace must respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in line with international law.
24 February marks four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in violation of the @UN Charter & international law.
This devastating war is a stain on our collective consciousness & remains a threat to regional & international peace & security.
The…
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) February 24, 2026
Russia updated its nuclear doctrine in 2024, setting out defensive scenarios under which it could consider the use of nuclear weapons.
In 2023, it rejected inspections of its nuclear sites as tensions with the United States rose.
Analysts in Moscow say the territorial dimension is only one part of the conflict, with Russian officials arguing that NATO expansion towards Russia’s borders triggered the crisis.
