Budapest Memorandum

The Budapest Memorandum is a security assurance agreement signed in 1994 by Ukraine, the U.S., the U.K., and Russia. In exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear arsenal, the signatories pledged to respect its sovereignty and existing borders, a promise which has been a point of contention since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

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An SS-18 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile - nicknamed 'Satan' - on display in Ukraine's Strategic Missile Forces Museum.

Nuclear Security & WMD

Ukraine's shattered deal: nuclear weapons for security assurances

5 min read

Paid

More than 30 years later, Ukraine is fighting for its survival as it laments the Budapest Memorandum's broken promises.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the U.N. General Assembly

Security & Geopolitics

Ukraine's president warns Russian 'mass destruction' threatens world

3 min read

Paid

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden each told the U.N. there are global stakes in the outcome of the war.