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Zelenskyy: Ukraine Shouldn’t Have Given Up Nuclear Weapons

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Zelenskyy: Ukraine Shouldn’t Have Given Up Nuclear Weapons
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the media ahead of the European Council Summit in Brussels, December 19, 2024. (Source: Getty Images)

Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revisited the topic of the Budapest Memorandum during an interview with Il Foglio, recalling his discussion with former US President Donald Trump and emphasizing the missed opportunity to secure genuine security guarantees when Ukraine relinquished its nuclear arsenal.

According to Zelenskyy, both the United States and Russia played a key role in pressuring Ukraine to abandon its nuclear weapons under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which aimed to ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in exchange for disarmament. The Ukrainian President highlighted that the agreement has proven ineffective in deterring aggression.

During the interview, Zelenskyy reflected on a meeting with Trump in which they discussed the memorandum and Ukraine’s current situation. He criticized the lack of enforceable security guarantees provided to Ukraine, stating that such an agreement should have included NATO membership or a comparable safeguard.

“We shouldn’t have given up our nuclear weapons,” Zelenskyy emphasized. “Russia’s leadership does not honor its commitments.”

“Putin gives his word, then breaks it. During my conversation with Trump, I shared my view that Ukraine’s decision to give up nuclear weapons in exchange for the memorandum was ill-advised. Considering the subsequent invasion, it was a mistake. At the time, Ukraine was under the influence of stronger nations and economies, which made it difficult to resist their demands.”

Zelenskyy argued that, in hindsight, Ukraine’s disarmament could have been tied to tangible security guarantees. He described the decision as “irresponsible and illogical,” underscoring the severe consequences Ukraine has faced in the decades since.

Earlier, during a press conference following the European Council summit on October 17, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine faces two options for security: nuclear weapons or NATO membership. Referencing the Budapest Memorandum, Zelenskyy highlighted that Ukraine’s choice remains clear—joining NATO as a path to long-term security, despite the understanding that full membership may only be possible after the war.

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