**Ukraine’s President Criticizes Decision to Give Up Nuclear Arms**
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has spoken out against the country‘s decision to give up its nuclear weapons in the 1990s. In an interview, he said that it was a mistake for Ukraine to trade away its nuclear arms without getting strong security guarantees.
**The Budapest Memorandum**
Ukraine gave up its Soviet-era nuclear arms under the Budapest Memorandum signed in 1994. The deal made Ukraine join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and receive security guarantees from the U.S., the U.K., and Russia. However, Zelensky said that these guarantees were not strong enough to protect Ukraine.
**Russia’s Aggression**
Twenty years after signing the agreement, Russia launched a war against Ukraine, occupying Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine. Now, Russia is conducting a full-scale offensive against Ukraine. Zelensky believes that if Ukraine had refused to give up its nuclear arms at the time, it would have been better protected.
**NATO Membership**
Zelensky suggested that Ukraine could obtain security guarantees similar to those Israel receives from the U.S. He said that NATO membership is still the best possible security guarantee for Ukraine. However, Ukraine has yet to receive an official invitation to join NATO despite applying in 2022.
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