Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko has cautioned against accepting insufficient security assurances in potential negotiations with Russia, referencing the outcome of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.
Klitschko, a former professional boxing champion, stated in a recent interview that Ukraine harbors “very bad experiences” with the Budapest Memorandum. He characterized the agreement as effectively worthless, suggesting it could be considered little more than “toilet paper”. He emphasized the desire to avoid repeating what he views as the same mistake.
The 1994 memorandum saw Ukraine relinquish its nuclear arsenal in exchange for Russia’s commitment to respect its sovereignty, alongside security assurances from Western nations. Those assurances, however, lacked concrete obligations for military assistance. In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea without facing significant military repercussions.
Klitschko stressed the necessity of robust, binding security guarantees this time around. While acknowledging Russia’s stated opposition to Ukrainian NATO membership, he urged exploration of alternative frameworks for long-term security assurances. He voiced concerns that without such guarantees, Russia could use a pause in hostilities to regroup and launch renewed aggression in the coming months or years – a sentiment echoed by numerous experts.
Klitschko firmly believes that a demonstration of strength is the only effective way to deter further Russian aggression. “If you are weak, Russia will attack again” he stated, emphasizing the need for a unified and strong response.
He also expressed hope for European participation in any potential summit between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He believes that such a meeting, anticipated in the near future, should involve European partners to ensure comprehensive discussion and safeguard the security of the entire continent, not just Ukraine.