Newsweek investigates whether the U.S. plans to transfer nuclear weapons to Ukraine.

The recent escalation of the Russian-Ukrainian war has led to an increase in discussions about nuclear war, particularly following repeated threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin to NATO countries. Newsweek examined the impact of Russian nuclear weapons on the capitals of the U.S. allies in NATO, including London, Berlin, and Paris. The publication also explored whether the U.S. would consider transferring nuclear weapons to Ukraine.

According to Newsweek, in September, Putin lowered the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, stating: "This concerns strategic and tactical aviation, as well as cruise missiles and drones, hypersonic and other delivery systems. Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression, including if an opponent using conventional weapons poses a critical threat." Since then, the United Kingdom is believed to have granted Ukraine permission to strike Russian territory with missiles supplied by the Ministry of Defense in London.

Newsweek utilized maps created by Alex Wellerstein, a professor and historian of nuclear technology, to assess the consequences if Moscow were to attack with its R-36M2 (also known as SS-18 Satan), one of the largest and most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). It can produce an equivalent of 20 megatons (20,000 kilotons) of TNT and has a range of up to 10,000 miles.

The fireball radius (the inner yellow circle), within which everything would vaporize due to intense heat, would reach approximately 15.1 square miles. A more moderate blast radius (the inner gray circle), covering 442 square miles, would obliterate residential buildings and likely cause massive fires.

Anyone within a radius of 2,360 square miles from the blast (the thermal radiation radius: the broader orange circle) risks suffering third-degree burns over their skin, "often painless as they destroy pain nerves," which can lead to severe scarring, disability, and may necessitate amputations.

In the radius of light blast damage (the broader gray circle), 3,490 square miles from the explosion, shattered glass windows are expected, which could cause injuries.

In London, where an average of 13,167,093 people are within the full blast radius (all four circles) of the simulated detonation in any given 24-hour period, about 3,941,740 people would die, and 4,616,650 would be injured.

In Berlin, approximately 2,011,330 people would die, and 1,568,280 would be injured, where an average of 4,452,381 people are within the full blast radius (all four circles) of the simulated detonation during any 24-hour period.

In Paris, during any given 24-hour period, an average of 11,648,592 people are within the full blast radius (all four circles) of the simulated detonation. It is estimated that 4,957,180 would die and 4,616,650 would be injured.

Will Ukraine receive nuclear weapons?

However, in the United States, officials have dismissed rumors regarding intentions to transfer nuclear weapons to Ukraine. Washington's position will remain unchanged despite the growing threat.

"We do not plan to arm Ukraine with nuclear weapons," stated the White House in a comment to Newsweek.

Ukraine could create its own nuclear bomb

The Times reported that Ukraine could theoretically develop a basic nuclear bomb within a few months if the United States were to stop providing military assistance. The country could create nuclear weapons based on plutonium, using technologies similar to those employed to develop the "Fat Man" bomb dropped on Nagasaki in 1945.

In particular, Ukraine could use plutonium from the spent nuclear fuel of its own reactors. It is estimated that the total amount of such fuel in Ukraine is around half a ton, which, according to experts, is sufficient to create hundreds of tactical nuclear warheads with yields in the kiloton range. Technically, the first nuclear bomb could be ready within a year, the publication added.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the information that appeared in The Times. The agency stated that Ukraine does not intend to develop nuclear weapons and is firmly committed to its non-nuclear status, as well as fulfilling its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

While Ukraine is not currently pursuing nuclear weapons development, events on the front lines could act as a catalyst for revisiting this issue. If Russia continues its aggression and makes another attempt to seize Kyiv, Ukraine may be forced to change its position. This matter was discussed at the international level even before the full-scale war.

Additionally, on October 17, in Brussels, Volodymyr Zelensky stated that since Ukraine renounced nuclear weapons and Russia violated the Budapest Memorandum, the country has two options: either regain its nuclear status or join NATO.