In a speech on Oct. 6, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that NATO’s goal was to make it impossible for Russia to use nuclear weapons.He made a broad appeal, stating: “I once again appeal to the international community, as it was before February 24: preemptive strikes so that they [Russians] know what will happen to them and not vice versa.”Top Russian officials, including Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the foreign minister, and Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, charged Zelensky with inciting nuclear war.Trying to provide reassurance that Ukraine would never advocate the deployment of nuclear weapons, Zelensky’s spokesperson Serhii Nykyforov clarified that the president was in fact referring to precautionary sanctions to be implemented prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion.Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the President’s Office, said that Zelensky didn’t mention anything about a preemptive nuclear strike and that it was just another Russian fake.“Zelensky just reminded listeners of Russian nuclear blackmail and suggested that the world preemptively outline the consequences for Russia and strengthen strikes against the Russian Federation – sanctions and armed assistance."