The Verkhovna Rada has adopted a resolution on the Ukrainian parliament's declaration, entitled "Real guarantees to Ukraine's nuclear-free status," which calls on the international community to strengthen security assurances to Ukraine that declared its nuclear-free status.
A total of 345 lawmakers out of the 429 registered in the parliament’s session hall voted for the document on Tuesday.
"The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine believes that the current situation requires the evolution of ideology set out in the Budapest Memorandum, as well as its updated implementation in an international legal document that would contain the necessary tools guaranteeing a reliable answer to modern challenges to the national security of our country," reads the declaration.
According to the resolution, the Cabinet of Ministers should ensure the drafting of an international legal document aimed at the development of the provisions of the Budapest Memorandum and the creation of real international guarantees of the national security of nuclear-free Ukraine.
According to the document, the government should take the necessary steps and procedural formalities to ensure that this document is considered and signed by the world’s leading nuclear states – Russia, Britain, the United States, China and France.
In February 1994, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified in full the Treaty on the Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (START-1). The Budapest Memorandum, which was signed by the United States, Russia, Britain, Germany, France and China in 1994, guarantees security to Ukraine in exchange for its nuclear disarmament. However, such assurances have not been secured by any international agreements.
Last summer, proposals were made in Ukraine on the need for new assurances from nuclear states. At the same time, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Alexander Vershbow said: "We’ve followed the text of the Budapest Memorandum, which contains clear security assurance and norms that reflect the will and wishes of everybody who signed the memorandum, including Russia, to respect the sovereignty and the integrity of Ukraine’s borders.
He also expressed confidence that those who signed the Budapest Memorandum would fulfill their obligations.
"I do not think that in this case it will be necessary to review the memorandum text," Vershbow said.
