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

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.

The Ukrainian leader has clarified that what he wants is Nato membership, which is 'better than any kind of weapon' Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday condemned comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggesting that Kyiv would seek nuclear weapons if it could not join Nato as a "dangerous provocation".

Vladimir Putin responded to remarks made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who indicated on Thursday that Ukraine has two options: either to join NATO or to develop nuclear weapons. The Russian leader declared,