Russia’s “bragging” about its nuclear weapons is fueling a dangerous arms race, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday at the Doha Forum.
Zelensky also urged Qatar, which hosts the annual gathering of international political and business leaders, to increase natural gas production in order to counter Russian efforts to use energy as a weapon.

“They are bragging that they can destroy not only a specific country, but the entire planet with nuclear weapons,” Zelensky said in a live video message to the forum on the 31st day of Russia’s military assault on his country.

When Ukraine dismantled its nuclear stockpile in the 1990s, it received “security assurances from the world’s most powerful countries,” including Russia, he said in remarks translated into English for the conference.

“These assurances, however, did not become guarantees. In fact, one of the countries that was supposed to provide one of the most significant security guarantees began to work against Ukraine, which is the ultimate manifestation of injustice “Zelensky elaborated.

Zelensky also urged Qatar, one of the world’s top three natural gas producers, to increase output as a result of the conflict.

“The future of Europe depends on your efforts,” he told the audience, which included Qatar’s Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

“It is determined by your output. I request that you increase energy output so that everyone in Russia understands that no country can use energy as a weapon.”

European countries have pledged to wean themselves off Russian oil and gas, and have already turned to Qatar for alternative supplies.