Putin Says 'No Point' In Using Nuclear Weapons in Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin said he has no plans to use nuclear weapons in Russia's war against Ukraine, saying there is "no point" to do so.

When asked about a potential nuclear escalation, Putin said the danger of nuclear weapons would remain as long as they exist, according to Al Jazeera.

He added that Moscow has no intention to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine as there is "no point" in doing that militarily or politically.

This is a marked departure in earlier remarks by the Russian leader who said at the onset of his invasion of Ukraine that he would "all the means at our disposal" if Russia's territory and integrity were threatened.

"Our country also has various means of destruction and in some components more modern than those of the NATO countries, and if the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal to protect Russia and our people," Putin said then.

He added that those who would intimidate them with nuclear weapons "should know that the prevailing winds can turn in their direction."

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera also reported that Moscow was ready for peace talks to end the current conflict in Ukraine. However, Putin said Kyiv was not prepared to sit down and negotiate.

"It's not a question about us, we are ready for negotiations. But the leaders in Kyiv decided not to continue negotiations with Russia. It is very easy to solve this problem if Washington gives a signal to Kyiv to change its position and solve the problem peacefully," Putin said, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

The article also mentioned that there had been no peace talks between the two countries since the effort at a settlement disintegrated in the first weeks of the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected a deal with Putin.