Ukraine has condemned the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which saw the country relinquish its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances, as a failed agreement that left it vulnerable to Russian aggression. The critique comes as Ukraine intensifies its push for NATO membership, underscoring the urgency of robust security guarantees to shield it from further threats.
Marking the 30th anniversary of the agreement, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry issued a scathing statement, describing the memorandum as "a monument to short-sightedness in strategic security decision-making." Signed by Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, the memorandum aimed to assure Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity after it gave up the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal following the Soviet Union's dissolution.
"The Budapest Memorandum should remind current Euro-Atlantic leaders that building European security at the expense of Ukraine's interests is destined for failure," the ministry said.
Ukraine has criticized the Budapest Memorandum since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, a move that violated the agreement's security guarantees. Since then, the conflict in eastern Ukraine, exacerbated by Russian-backed proxies, has claimed thousands of lives. The situation escalated dramatically in 2022 with Russia's full-scale invasion.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed any possibility of returning to negotiation frameworks similar to the Minsk Agreements, which sought to end fighting in Ukraine's east but ultimately failed to prevent further aggression.
"Enough of the Budapest Memorandum. Enough of the Minsk Agreements. Twice is enough; we cannot fall into the same trap a third time," Zelenskyy declared.
As the war nears its third year, Ukraine is urging NATO members to extend an invitation for membership during the alliance’s foreign ministers' meeting this week. The Foreign Ministry emphasized that full NATO membership is the only real guarantee against further Russian aggression and essential for Ukraine’s long-term security.
The statement also called on the United States, the United Kingdom, and other signatories of the Budapest Memorandum, including France and China, to support robust security guarantees for Ukraine.
Russia has consistently opposed Ukraine’s integration into NATO, viewing it as a direct threat to its security. Despite Moscow's objections, Kyiv insists that NATO membership is critical to deterring future attacks and ensuring stability in the region.
As Ukraine continues its struggle for sovereignty and security, the fate of its NATO aspirations could redefine the broader European security architecture and set a precedent for the alliance's role in countering aggression.