As Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine continues, it is taking a huge toll on the Russian economy, but Western sanctions—and Moscow’s countermeasures—have also hurt European economies.
As a result, there is a growing chorus of voices across Europe and the U.S. calling for a compromise solution, one that could potentially include “security guarantees” for Russia.
The latest such sentiment, voiced by French President Emmanuel Macron, was widely rebuked by Ukrainian officials, who pointed to the Budapest Memorandum and its outcomes in their response.
But what exactly was this document, and did Ukraine really voluntarily give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for independence after the Soviet Union collapsed?
The Claim
A number of social media users, including Ukraine’s officials, have referenced the Budapest Memorandum in recent comments responding to Macron’s proposal.
“OTD in 1994 Russia signed the Budapest memo, guaranteeing Ukraine’s territorial integrity in exchange for their nukes,” Darth Putin, a political satire account, posted Monday, receiving around 12,500 engagements.
R&I~Smit
3rd_Party_Yesterday
Article URL : https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-did-ukraine-give-nukes-russia-us-security-guarantees-1765048