Russia's Medvedev Predicts More Nations Will Join the Nuclear Club

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned on April 8, 2025, that rising geopolitical tensions and Western actions—particularly support for Ukraine—are likely to drive more countries toward acquiring nuclear weapons. His remarks, made amid concerns over the expiration of the New START treaty in February 2026, underscore the fragile state of global nuclear arms control.

Medvedev criticized recent European statements on nuclear arsenals as provocative, stressing that even a resolution of the Ukraine conflict is unlikely to spark global disarmament. With Russia and the United States controlling 88% of the world's nuclear stockpile, his warning highlights the potential for further proliferation as new, more advanced weapons are developed and additional nations aspire to nuclear capability.