NextFin news, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at a high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council in New York City that the Budapest Memorandum has failed and become "empty words." The memorandum, signed in 1994, was intended to guarantee Ukraine's security in exchange for its nuclear disarmament.
Zelenskyy emphasized that the agreement did not provide real security guarantees, as evidenced by ongoing aggression against Ukraine. He said, "This document proved that international promises can turn into empty words." The president called for a new security architecture to be built with the support of the United Kingdom, France, the United States, and more than 30 other countries forming a coalition of willing partners.
He explained that the new security framework aims to establish reliable guarantees that would serve as a line Russia cannot cross again, ensuring Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Zelenskyy highlighted the importance of legally binding security guarantees rather than memorandums like Budapest's, which have not functioned in practice.
The Budapest Memorandum was signed on December 5, 1994, by Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia. It promised Ukraine territorial integrity and security assurances in exchange for relinquishing its nuclear arsenal. However, the memorandum's failure became apparent with Russia's military actions against Ukraine.
According to Zelenskyy's office, all signatories of the Budapest Memorandum were aware that it had never been effectively implemented. The Ukrainian president reiterated the need for a new, robust security system to prevent future violations and to support Ukraine's defense capabilities.
These remarks come amid ongoing conflict and military engagements in Ukraine, underscoring the urgency of establishing dependable international security guarantees. Zelenskyy's address reflects Ukraine's strategic shift towards building a coalition-backed security architecture to replace the ineffective Budapest Memorandum framework.
Explore more exclusive insights at nextfin.ai.
