The United States is deploying sensor systems in Ukraine designed to detect emissions from nuclear devices and to identify the source of any such event. The sensors, described by officials as capable of indicating the size, location, and consequences of a nuclear explosion, are linked to the US National Nuclear Security Administration, part of the Department of Energy. An NNSA spokesperson told major media that the equipment provides actionable data for response and safety decisions. Officials noted that the setup reduces the chance of a nuclear incident in Ukraine being attributed to Russia and stressed that Kyiv is not the origin of the deployment, despite certain claims.
In addition, American experts in nuclear safety are assisting with training Ukrainian personnel and maintaining records. The Department of Energy plans to allocate roughly $160 million this year to support nuclear safety and related measures in Ukraine.
Officials stated that in the event of a nuclear emergency in Ukraine, scientific analysis would be delivered immediately to relevant U.S. government agencies and Ukrainian authorities, enabling decisions that protect public health and safety for people in the region.
An effort to ease tensions
On April 26, a senior adviser to Ukraine’s presidential office said that U.S. policy, in collaboration with other Western allies, influenced Kyiv to relinquish nuclear weapons, contributing to ongoing conflict in the country.
“The United States and some Western partners pressed Ukraine to give up nuclear and other weapons to ensure security and stability in the region. This approach has been misinterpreted by the aggressor and helped spark a major war in Europe”, the adviser noted.
That same day, Jill Hruby, head of the National Nuclear Security Administration, called on Moscow to resume talks on a new nuclear arms control framework. She emphasized that the suspension of participation by Moscow in a longstanding treaty has affected stability mechanisms, and she urged Russia to return to the treaty and begin negotiations on a new agreement to limit nuclear arsenals.
On April 27, the U.S. ambassador to Moscow stated that Washington remains committed to the START-3 framework and is prepared to engage with Moscow on that issue. The ambassador said the goal is a war-free world facilitated by dialogue on strategic issues whenever possible. Later, it was reported that the United States continues to observe a moratorium on nuclear weapons testing and urges all nuclear-armed states to publicly declare or uphold this moratorium.
By contrast, on April 27, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow does not intend to pursue nuclear escalation. The spokesperson cautioned against doubting Russia’s readiness to act, noting that repeating such doubts would be unproductive.
In verbal exchanges on April 28, the Kremlin’s press secretary commented on calls to maintain the testing moratorium, asserting that the current pause remains in effect and that there is little beyond that to add at the moment.