On the 5th of December we mark the 25-th anniversary of signing the Budapest Memorandum on providing security assurances in connection with Ukraine’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons also known as the Budapest Memorandum. Having concluded this document with Ukraine, a quarter century ago, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and the Russian Federation declared their commitment to respect the independence, sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
The Budapest Memorandum was a crucial political and legal step of a young Ukrainian state within the framework of international efforts in the global process of nuclear disarmament. Ukraine has fulfilled its obligations within the Memorandum to the full extent, by implementing a complex of multifaceted nuclear disarmament measures.
Along with that, the relevant political obligations towards our country have not been carried out. The Russian Federation, as one of the states-guarantors, has flagrantly violated its obligations and basic principles of international law by occupying the sovereign part of Ukraine (the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol) and launching the military aggression in the Donbas region. Nowadays, Russia progressively militarizes the territory of occupied Crimea, and has already transformed it into a powerful military base. Taking into consideration the strategic location of Crimea in the region, the deployment of nuclear forces/weapons in Crimea constitutes a serious challenge to the existing non-proliferation regime and the global security system. Accordingly, it must receive due response of the international community.
Ukraine highly appreciates the actions of the United States, the United Kingdom and France, which resolute in their support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders and strengthen their political support through practical assistance towards enhancing Ukraine's defense capabilities and implementation of sanction mechanisms against the aggressor.
Ukraine continues to consider the Budapest Memorandum as an important international legal instrument for ensuring Ukraine's security by the United States, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France and the People’s Republic of China, and demands that Russia fully comply with its commitments.