Zelenskyy on Budapest Memorandum: Not a single day did this document work

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has commented on the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Budapest Memorandum, stressing that Ukraine needs real security guarantees.

Source: Zelenskyy in his evening address on Thursday, 5 December, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Zelenskyy emphasised that the Budapest Memorandum was "of great significance" when it was signed, "but today does not even deserve many words".

"Today marks thirty years of the Budapest Memorandum. Ten years of war. Not a single day did this document work," he stated.

The Ukrainian president added that in view of this, Ukraine needs effective guarantees: "real alliances and a realistic security foundation", weapons for defence and "unity that helps endure even the most challenging moments".

For reference: The Budapest Memorandum, signed on 4 December 1994 by Ukraine, Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom, provided "security assurances" to Ukraine in exchange for its renunciation of nuclear weapons.

Background: 

• Earlier this week, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry announced an official stance that Ukraine will not accept security assurances that are substitutes for NATO membership.
• Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stressed that Ukraine had learnt a bitter lesson from its hopes for the Budapest Memorandum and that mistakes of this nature cannot be made again.

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