Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed his country’s pursuit of NATO membership as the primary means to ensure Ukraine’s long-term security, while dismissing rumors about Ukraine rebuilding its nuclear arsenal. Speaking at a European Council meeting in Brussels on Thursday, Zelenskyy emphasized that joining NATO would provide the strongest defense against future Russian aggression. He also reminded the council that Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons in 1994 under the Budapest Memorandum.
“Either Ukraine will have nuclear weapons, and then it will be a defense for us, or Ukraine will be in NATO. NATO countries are not at war today. All people are alive in NATO countries. And that is why we choose NATO over nuclear weapons.” – President Zelensky. pic.twitter.com/yAv3RoozDi
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) October 17, 2024
Recent reports, including one from German media outlet BILD, speculated that Ukraine might be considering re-developing nuclear weapons. However, Dmytro Lytvyn, a communications advisor to Zelenskyy, rejected these claims, accusing the publication of spreading misinformation that aligns with Russian propaganda. Zelenskyy later clarified his position, stating, “We are not building nuclear weapons. What I meant is that today there is no stronger security guarantee for us besides NATO membership.”
The debate over nuclear deterrence has resurfaced in the context of Ukraine’s war with Russia. Zelenskyy, in discussions with former U.S. President Donald Trump, highlighted Ukraine’s vulnerability since it gave up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons, saying, “Who gave up nuclear weapons? Ukraine. Who is fighting today? Ukraine.” He argued that Ukraine’s defense now hinges on either NATO membership or nuclear capabilities, but reiterated that NATO remains the preferred option.
Ukraine dismantled its nuclear arsenal in 1994 as part of the Budapest Memorandum, an agreement in which Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom promised security assurances in exchange for Kyiv’s disarmament. Zelenskyy has been critical of the agreement, noting that it failed to protect Ukraine from Russia’s ongoing invasion. He contrasted Ukraine’s situation with the stability enjoyed by NATO members, stating, “NATO countries are not at war. That is why we choose NATO, not nuclear weapons.”
While NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte affirmed that Ukraine’s path to membership is “irreversible,” the timeline remains uncertain. Some NATO members, including Hungary and Slovakia, have voiced concerns about Ukraine’s accession. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, both seen as sympathetic to Russia, have expressed reservations about Ukraine joining the alliance.
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