On anniversary of Budapest Memorandum, Zelenskyy calls for providing Ukraine with effective guarantees
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
The Budapest Memorandum is 30 years old, but this document has not worked for a single day. This shows that assurances or promises alone are not enough for security; Ukraine needs effective guarantees, states Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his evening address.
"Today marks 30 years of the Budapest Memorandum. Ten years of war. Not a single day has this document worked. And because of this, everyone in the world now knows that just the signature of any state, assurances, or promises for security are not enough," said Zelenskyy.
Therefore, as the president pointed out, Ukraine needs effective guarantees to prevent Russia from attempting to seize parts of Ukrainian territory again in the future.
"That means real alliance and a realistic security foundation within the country. Weapons that allow us to defend ourselves and deter the enemy. And unity, which helps us endure even in the most difficult moments. We are working on each element of security," the head of state added.
Budapest Memorandum
The Budapest Memorandum is an international agreement signed on December 5, 1994, between Ukraine, the USA, the United Kingdom, and Russia. In exchange for Ukraine's abandonment of nuclear weapons, these countries supposedly provided guarantees for its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and security.
Recently, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Kyiv rejects any alternatives to NATO membership following the Budapest Memorandum, which has become a bitter experience for the country.
