Ukraine Rejects NATO Alternatives on 30th Anniversary of Budapest Memorandum

Dec 3, 2024, 10:24 AM

On the 30th anniversary of the Budapest Memorandum, Ukraine has officially rejected any security guarantees short of full NATO membership, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministry emphasized that only NATO membership can provide the necessary security to deter Russian aggression, highlighting the failure of the Budapest Memorandum to ensure Ukraine's safety. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha brought the document to NATO headquarters to underscore this point. Despite Ukraine's push for NATO membership, NATO foreign ministers are expected to rebuff Kyiv's request for progress on joining the alliance ahead of Donald Trump's return to the US presidency. Ukraine's stance is that NATO membership is the only 'real guarantee' for its security, and the country has urged NATO signatories, including the US and UK, to provide clear, binding security guarantees in light of Russia’s aggression.