Putin: Russia will not allow Ukraine to get nuclear weapons

Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that Russia will not allow Ukraine to get nuclear weapons, after the Ukrainian leader said that since Kiev has given up Soviet-era nuclear weapons, it must join NATO, reports Reuters.

Putin said any move by Ukraine to acquire nuclear weapons could not be hidden and would provoke a corresponding Russian response.

"Russia will not allow this to happen, no matter what," he told reporters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that he told US presidential candidate Donald Trump that Ukraine needs either nuclear weapons or NATO membership for its security - but since it gave up nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union , joining NATO was the only way to deter Russia.

Zelensky later clarified that he never said that Ukraine was preparing to build nuclear weapons.

Ukraine inherited nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but voluntarily gave them up in the 1990s in exchange for guarantees of its territorial integrity, a deal it says Moscow gave up on invading the country.

Russia is ready to help seek a compromise between the biggest enemies of Israel and Iran

Putin said Russia was ready to help seek a compromise between Israel's arch-enemies and Iran, saying it would be difficult but possible.

"We are in contact with Israel, we are in contact with Iran. We have quite confidential relations. And we would very much like this endless exchange of blows to stop at one point. And to find such ways to resolve the situation. That would satisfy both sides," Putin told reporters.

"The answer to this question always lies in seeking compromises. Are they possible in this situation or not? I think they are. However difficult it may be, but in my opinion, it is possible," he said.

Israel has beheaded the leadership of Iran's allies Hamas and Hezbollah in recent weeks, and Iran fired missiles at Israel on October 1.

The region is now ready for Israel's response.

Putin said Russia is ready to intervene if both sides want it.

"If requested, we are ready to do everything in our power to contact both sides to help find these compromises," he said.

Going to Brazil would "disrupt" the work

Putin said his possible attendance at the Group of 20 summit in Brazil next month would disrupt important work, adding that someone else would represent Moscow there.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has issued an arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Kiev has called on Brazil to arrest the Russian leader if he travels there for the summit taking place on the 18th and 19th. November.

"I have wonderful friendly relations with President Lula, but why should I go there deliberately to disrupt the normal work of this forum," Putin told reporters, referring to Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Putin also said Russia could sign a bilateral agreement with Brazil to circumvent ICC arrest warrants if necessary.

"Decisions of this kind are very easy to circumvent, it is enough to sign an intergovernmental agreement and that's it – the jurisdiction of the ICC will be limited," Putin said.

Russia, which is not a signatory to the ICC, vehemently denies the war crimes charges brought against it by the court, Ukraine and its Western allies.