Ukraine is not requesting nuclear weapons from Western partners to defend itself against Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in comments released Tuesday.

Volodymyr Zelensky has threatened to seek nuclear weapons unless Ukraine is given Nato membership. The Ukrainian President told European Union leaders during a speech in Brussels that Kyiv needed a strong deterrent against Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday Russia would not let Ukraine get nuclear weapons, after Ukraine's leader said that since Kyiv had given up its Soviet-era nuclear arms, it must join NATO.