1994. Budapest. Ukraine-Russia Budapest Memorandum.
"U.S. President Clinton, Russian President Yeltsin, and Ukrainian President Kravchuk after signing the Trilateral Statement in Moscow on 14 January 1994." under Public Domain by U.S. government employee, photo from William J. Clinton Presidential Library
The Budapest Memorandum, signed on December 5, 1994, was a diplomatic agreement between Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom that guaranteed Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence, in exchange for Ukraine relinquishing its nuclear weapons. Despite the agreement, in 2014, Russia annexed Crimea and began supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine, leading to a war that continues to this day.
The signing of the Budapest Memorandum was a crucial moment in the history of European security. It provided Ukraine with a sense of security after it gave up its nuclear weapons, which many saw as an important step towards disarmament. However, as tensions grew between Russia and Ukraine, the value of the agreement was called into question.
In 2014, tensions came to a head when Russia annexed Crimea and began supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine. The West was slow to respond, and questions were raised about the effectiveness of the Budapest Memorandum. The United States and the United Kingdom denied that they had any legal obligation to come to Ukraine's defense, while Russia accused the West of failing to honor its commitments.
The Budapest Memorandum has continued to be a topic of debate in the years since the annexation of Crimea. Some argue that the agreement was never meant to be legally binding, while others argue that it was a crucial security assurance for Ukraine. The debate has continued to this day, with some calling for a revisiting of the agreement in light of recent events.
As the war in Ukraine continues, the Budapest Memorandum remains an important topic of discussion. Many argue that the West's failure to act has emboldened Russia and put other countries at risk. Others argue that the agreement was never meant to be a guarantee of Ukraine's security and that the situation is more complex than a simple treaty can address.
Despite the ongoing debate, one thing is clear: the Budapest Memorandum remains an important piece of history that continues to shape the geopolitical landscape of Europe. As tensions continue to rise between Russia and the West, it is important to remember the lessons of the past and work towards a more peaceful future.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on March 22, 2023
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Sources for 1994. Budapest. Ukraine-Russia Budapest Memorandum:
The Atlantic Alliance and European Security in the 1990s - NATO May 17, 1991
YELTSIN, CLINTON CLASH OVER NATO'S ROLE - The Washington Post December 6, 1994
Explainer: The Budapest Memorandum And Its Relevance To Crimea - RFERL February 28, 2014
Are the US and the UK bound to intervene in Ukraine? - France24 March 3, 2014
Honoring Neither the Letter nor the Law - Foreign Policy March 7, 2014
The Role Of 1994 Nuclear Agreement In Ukraine's Current State - NPR March 9, 2014
So Much for the Budapest Memorandum - SLATE March 19, 2014
Russia, West trade accusations over 1994 Ukraine deal - Reuters March 19, 2014
Ukraine's nuclear regret? - BBC News March 20, 2014
Did NATO Promise Not to Enlarge? Gorbachev Says “No” - BROOKINGS November 6, 2014
The Budapest Memorandum and U.S. Obligations - BROOKINGS December 4, 2014
Ukraine's forgotten security guarantee - DW December 5, 2014
Mr. Lavrov, Russia, and the Budapest Memorandum - BROOKINGS January 28, 2016
The West Abandoned Ukraine to Its Own Detriment | Opinion - The New York Times December 22, 2016
Russia-Ukraine sea clash puts spotlight on 1994 agreement - NBC News November 29, 2018
Security for Disarmament: Negotiating Ukraine’s Budapest Memorandum - Wilson Center December 5, 2018
Why care about Ukraine and the Budapest Memorandum - BROOKINGS December 5, 2019
Crimea: Six years after illegal annexation - BROOKINGS March 17, 2020
Biden-Putin talks on Ukraine crisis rooted in older dispute - AP News December 6, 2021
What the Budapest Memorandum means for the U.S. on Ukraine - The Washington Post February 1, 2022
Did Ukraine Give Up Its Nuclear Power Through the Budapest Memorandum? - Snopes March 22, 2022
‘There was no promise not to enlarge NATO’ - Harvard Law Today May 16, 2022
A U.S. Translation Flop Is Fueling a Messy Row Over Putin’s War - The Daily Beast August 28, 2022