**Ukraine May Need Nuclear Weapons if Not Allowed to Join NATO**
A Ukrainian military expert says that the country may need to develop its own nuclear weapons if it’s not allowed to join NATO and is forced to give up territory to Russia. Mykhailo Samus, head of the New Geopolitics Research Network, made this comment on Espreso TV.
**30 Years of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty**
In 1994, Ukraine joined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. This meant that it gave up all its nuclear weapons and promised to only use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In return, other countries with a lot of nuclear power were supposed to protect Ukraine from any threats.
**NATO Membership is Key**
Samus says that if Ukraine becomes a member of NATO or is invited to join, then it won’t need nuclear weapons. But if the country is left in a “gray zone” without access to NATO and is forced to give up territory to Russia, things will be different.
**Self-Defense is Necessary**
The expert believes that if Ukraine is pushed into this situation, it will have to prioritize its own survival. In this case, developing nuclear weapons might become necessary as one of the tools for self-defense. However, Samus emphasizes that currently, there are no plans to develop nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
**Opportunities to Integrate with NATO**
The expert believes that Ukraine has many opportunities to integrate into the Euro-Atlantic space and become a part of NATO. He thinks that this is especially important now, when considering European strategic autonomy.