description Budapest Memorandum Overview
The Budapest Memorandum is a diplomatic agreement signed on 5 December 1994 by Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Ukraine, which had inherited the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal from the Soviet Union, agreed to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and give up those weapons, while the three nuclear powers offered security assurances respecting Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and existing borders. Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and its 2022 invasion of Ukraine violated those assurances.
help Budapest Memorandum FAQ
When was the Budapest Memorandum signed?
The Budapest Memorandum was signed on 5 December 1994. The signatories were Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Why did Ukraine sign the Budapest Memorandum?
Ukraine agreed to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear-weapon state. It then transferred the Soviet nuclear weapons left on its territory after independence.
What did the Budapest Memorandum promise Ukraine?
The signatories reaffirmed commitments to respect Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and existing borders. They also addressed the use or threat of force and nuclear coercion.
Did the Budapest Memorandum function like a NATO defense treaty?
No. It did not create a NATO-style obligation for the United States or United Kingdom to send troops to defend Ukraine. Its security assurances were diplomatic commitments rather than an automatic military guarantee.
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