WHAT a disgrace NOT MY pres drumpf/trump, NOT MY vp vance and their neo-nazi fascist fotze ass licking administration for turning against Ukraine. Still, it isn't as bad as the treason they are committing by their turning against the US Military by stopping sanctions on Russian oil and then buying Russian oil even though Russia is supporting Iran in the US-Iran war in the Persian Gulf. donald jessica drumpf/trump is more committed to satisfying his bff/butt fuck friend putin than supporting and protecting US Military Service personnel and our allies. He can not be gone soon enough...
The Budapest Memorandum is a diplomatic agreement signed on December 5, 1994, under which Ukraine agreed to give up the nuclear weapons it inherited following the collapse of the Soviet Union in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
It is particularly important today because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and questions about whether the countries that signed the agreement have fulfilled their commitments.
Why was it created?
When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Ukraine found itself with approximately 1,900 strategic nuclear warheads on its territory, making it home to the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal at the time.
Although Russia retained important operational controls over those weapons, Ukraine possessed the territory and facilities where they were stationed.
The United States, Russia, and Britain wanted Ukraine to relinquish these weapons to reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation.
In return, Ukraine wanted assurances that its independence, sovereignty, and borders would be respected.
What did the countries promise?
The three countries made six principal commitments to Ukraine, including:
Respect Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and existing borders.
Refrain from threatening or using military force against Ukraine.
Refrain from using economic coercion to undermine Ukraine's sovereign rights.
Seek immediate United Nations Security Council action if Ukraine became a victim of aggression involving nuclear weapons or a threat of such aggression.
Refrain from using nuclear weapons against Ukraine, subject to specified exceptions.
Consult with one another if questions arose about these commitments.
Ukraine subsequently completed the transfer of its nuclear warheads to Russia by 1996.
Did Russia violate the agreement?
Yes. Russia's actions are widely recognized as violations of the commitments it made in 1994.
2014: Russia occupied and annexed Crimea, internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory.
2022: Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Since 2022: Russia has repeatedly made nuclear threats in connection with the war.
These actions directly conflict with the memorandum's assurances concerning Ukrainian sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the use or threat of force.
Why haven't the United States and Britain intervened militarily?
This is the most important distinction in understanding the agreement.
The Budapest Memorandum provided security assurances, not a binding military-defense guarantee comparable to NATO's Article 5.
It did not require the United States or Britain to send troops to defend Ukraine if Russia attacked.
Consequently, although the United States and Britain have provided substantial military and financial assistance, they have not been obligated by the memorandum itself to enter the war.
Why does it matter internationally?
The agreement raises a fundamental question:
If a country voluntarily gives up nuclear weapons in exchange for assurances of security, and those assurances fail to prevent an invasion, why would another country agree to surrender its nuclear arsenal?
That question has enormous implications for nuclear nonproliferation, particularly regarding North Korea and other countries considering whether nuclear weapons are essential to their security.
One particularly interesting question is whether Ukraine would have been invaded if it had retained its nuclear weapons. There are compelling arguments on both sides, and the answer is more complicated than it first appears.
