Criticism of the Budapest Memorandum
On the 31st anniversary of the signing of the Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga expressed sharp criticism of this document, noting that Ukraine no longer trusts empty promises and needs reliable security guarantees. The Budapest Memorandum, signed on December 5, 1994, was an important milestone in Ukraine's international relations, as the country gave up the third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world in exchange for declarative commitments from the USA, the UK, and Russia.
Andriy Sybiga emphasized that Russia violated the conditions of the memorandum by annexing Crimea in 2014 and launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. These actions demonstrated that the international security guarantees enshrined in the document were ineffective. According to Sybiga, the Budapest Memorandum became
“a piece of paper that has become synonymous with a failed security agreement.”
Searching for New Security Formats
The minister stressed the importance of remembering the 'bitter lessons of Budapest' and noted that Ukraine relies more on the strength of its own army and weapons. To effectively deter aggression, Ukraine needs about 150,000 servicemen. These facts indicate that the country is seeking new security formats and international support in light of modern challenges.
Andriy Sybiga's speech highlights Ukraine's disappointment with international security mechanisms, particularly the Budapest Memorandum, which has become a symbol of the unreliability of external guarantees. In the context of ongoing aggression from Russia, the Ukrainian government is looking for new ways to ensure its security, emphasizing the importance of its own military forces. This also reflects the growing need to strengthen international support for Ukraine in conditions of global instability.