Budapest Memorandum has not worked: Zelenskyy calls for effective security guarantees for Ukraine

Zelenskyy said this nightly video address.

‘It was a thing of great importance when it was signed, but today it does not even deserve many words. Today is the 30th anniversary of the Budapest Memorandum. Ten years of war. Not a single day did this document work. And because of this, everyone in the world will now know that just the signature of any state, some assurances or promises are not enough for security,’ Zelenskyy stressed.

The President stressed that Ukraine needs effective guarantees — ‘real alliance and a realistic security foundation within the country’.

‘Weapons that allow you to defend yourself and deter the enemy. And unity, which helps to survive even in the most difficult moments. We are working on each of the security elements,’ he added.

• In October, during a conversation with U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, Zelenskyy stressed the importance of Ukraine joining NATO, noting that the Budapest Memorandum agreements ‘did not work’.
• On December 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine published a document on the day of the meeting of foreign ministers, stating that Ukraine refuses in advance to accept security guarantees alternative to NATO membership.