budapest memorandum

The document you are referring to is the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances. It was signed in 1994 by Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Under this agreement, Ukraine agreed to give up its inherited nuclear weapons, which were the third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world at the time, in exchange for security assurances from the signatory countries.

The key points of the Budapest Memorandum are as follows:

Security Assurances: Ukraine received assurances that its sovereignty and territorial integrity would be respected. The signatory countries (the U.S., UK, and Russia) committed to refraining from the threat or use of force against Ukraine’s borders and to seeking assistance from the UN Security Council if Ukraine’s security was threatened.

Nuclear Disarmament: In return for these security assurances, Ukraine agreed to give up its nuclear weapons, becoming a non-nuclear state.

Respect for Sovereignty: The agreement emphasized that the signatories would respect Ukraine's political independence and borders, and refrain from using economic pressure or military force against Ukraine.

While the Budapest Memorandum provided Ukraine with security guarantees, it did not establish legally binding obligations for military intervention in the event of an attack. This aspect has been a point of contention, especially in light of Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Russia's actions have been seen as a violation of the agreement.