president.gov.ua

The President's Office says raising the issue in the international arena regarding security assurances to Ukraine under the Budapest Memorandum may help the state create much stronger negotiating positions regarding the end of occupation of Donbas and Crimea.

"Analyzing the Budapest Memorandum, we come to the conclusion that security assurances to Ukraine had been violated long before 2014 [the year of Crimea annexation and the onset of Russian aggression in Donbas]. For example, it is worth recalling the well-known border scuffle in 2003 – the conflict over the Island of Tuzla, which threatened the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The so-called gas wars are no less dangerous, being a manifestation of deliberate economic pressure aimed at subordinating Ukraine to their own interests," according to the press service.

It is noted that the world did not react properly to such violations of obligations by one of the signatories, which have expanded over the years, eventually leading to direct armed aggression.

Видео дня

"Moreover, such a blatant disregard for security obligations to Ukraine will call into question for any other state the weight of the signatures and promises by representatives of guarantor states under the Budapest Memorandum. Who will then fulfill other similar agreements? Ignoring the obligations to Ukraine by signatory states under the Budapest Memorandum casts doubt on the entire concept of international treaties on non-proliferation and control of weapons of mass destruction," reads the report.

Today the global task of nuclear non-proliferation remains significant, as well as the emergence of new international treaties guaranteeing security of individual states in the event of renunciation of nuclear weapons or intentions to produce them.

Read alsoDonbas settlement: Russia snubs at Budapest memo referencesZelensky's Office also notes the need to update provisions of the Budapest Memo. Its further non-fulfillment could block the achievement of new diplomatic solutions in the field of global security.

"Taking into account the duration of violations by one of the signatory states of its obligations, laid down in the Memorandum, we insist on the need for joint work of other guarantor states to restore security and territorial integrity of Ukraine," the report says.

"We are forced to remind nothing has actually been done by the then Ukrainian authorities for five years since 2014 to prepare for the end of occupation of Crimea. The Crimean and Donbas cases were also separated in the negotiations. Updating the provisions of the Budapest Memorandum may help our state restore the lost opportunities over time, creating much stronger joint negotiating positions regarding Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea," the President's Office said.

Zelensky's poll: Background

On October 13, Zelensky said an all-Ukrainian poll with five important issues to be out forward would be carried out on local election day, October 25.

The poll, unlike the referendum, will have no direct legal implications, the President's Office explained, addressing public concern over the legitimacy of holding such a survey and its consequences.

On October 14, Zelensky announced the first out of five questions and on October 15 he revealed the second one.

On October 16, Zelensky voiced the remaining three questions. Questions concern parliament size, medical marijuana legalization, and Budapest Memorandum.

UNIAN memo

The Budapest Memorandum was signed on December 5, 1994. According to the document, Ukraine received guarantees of territorial integrity in exchange for renouncing its nuclear status. The memorandum was signed by the leaders of Ukraine, the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom. Later, it was signed by China and France.