From: Ukraine.ua — 30 years ago, on 5 December 1994, Ukraine signed the Budapest Memorandum, agreeing to give up its nuclear arsenal, the third-largest in the world at the time. In exchange, the deal was supposed to provide Ukraine with security guarantees.
The Budapest Memorandum declared respect for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and existing borders. It promised that no weapon of these countries would ever be used against Ukraine except for self-defence. However, since 2014, Russia — one of the Memorandum’s signatories — has been brutally violating the Memorandum and numerous other agreements and international laws.
The Budapest Memorandum failed to prevent Russia from launching an invasion of Ukraine, which led to thousands of Ukrainians being killed, millions displaced, whole towns destroyed and others subjected to constant missile and drone attacks.
Moreover, the broken security assurances set a dangerous precedent: Ukraine had given up its nuclear weapons in good faith, and Russia’s war not only undermined Ukraine’s security but also damaged global trust in nuclear disarmament.
Recognising past mistakes is essential to ensuring history doesn’t repeat itself. Today, Ukraine must be provided with clear, legally binding security guarantees – and full membership in NATO is the way to move forward.
Voice of Ukraine 