Lavrov says Russia did not violate Budapest memorandum
Illustrative photo: Lavrov says Russia did not violate the Budapest memorandum (Getty Images)
Russia has again publicly claimed it did not violate the Budapest memorandum despite its armed aggression against Ukraine, according to a publication by RIA Novosti.
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia does not believe its actions against Ukraine violate the provisions of the Budapest memorandum.
"The Budapest memorandum says that Ukraine, like other former Soviet republics that gave up nuclear weapons, will receive the guarantees nuclear powers give to non-nuclear states. That’s it. These guarantees mean that nuclear weapons will not be used against non-nuclear states that are parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," Lavrov stated.
Attempt to justify aggression
The Russian side claims that, alongside the signing of the Budapest memorandum, the parties allegedly agreed on a declaration enshrining OSCE principles—particularly obligations on protecting minority rights, democracy, and freedom of speech.
Moscow insists these principles were violated by Kyiv and uses that narrative to justify its aggression.
What Budapest memorandum stipulates
The Budapest memorandum on security assurances was signed on December 5, 1994. Under the document, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States committed to respect Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and existing borders.
The signatories also pledged to refrain from the threat or use of force against Ukraine’s territorial integrity and political independence.
The memorandum further specified that none of their weapons should be used against Ukraine except in self-defense or in accordance with the UN Charter.
It also included commitments not to use economic pressure to influence Ukraine’s foreign policy decisions or gain unilateral advantages.
Breach of commitments
Since the 2014 annexation of Crimea, Russia has effectively stopped adhering to the Budapest memorandum. Its military aggression in eastern Ukraine and the full-scale invasion launched in February 2022 directly violated the core principles of the agreement.
Moscow’s claims of "non-violation" contradict well-documented facts and actions by Russian forces.
The international community has repeatedly emphasized that Russia destroyed the system of guarantees established by the Budapest memorandum, undermining the very idea of nuclear disarmament as a tool of global security.
Earlier, drones struck a dam in Russia’s Belgorod region, damaging the structure and sharply raising the water level in the Siverskyi Donets River, which flooded Russian military positions near the Vovchansk direction.
Meanwhile, a map circulating online allegedly shows the locations of air defense systems in Moscow, marking potential sites with different colors.
