Ukraine at OSCE: Violation of Budapest Memorandum undermines nuclear disarmament in the world

"For many years, Ukraine has established a strong reputation as a contributor to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. We disposed of all highly enriched uranium deposits and voluntarily abandoned the vast arsenal of nuclear weapons inherited from the former Soviet Union as we were given the Budapest Memorandum guarantees against violation of security, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders of Ukraine. Instead, more than two decades down the line, Ukraine was deceived and its territorial integrity and sovereignty was grossly violated by one of the guarantors," Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the International Organizations in Vienna Ihor Lossovsky said at the meeting of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He stressed that the neglect of security guarantees given "undermines and dilutes global efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons and ensure progress in the global nuclear disarmament."

"In order to remedy this situation, strengthen the European security and non-proliferation regimes, we urge the Russian side to return to full compliance with the Budapest Memorandum by ending the aggression and de-occupying Ukraine's sovereign territories, as well as by compensating for the damages caused to Ukraine," the diplomat said.

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