Statement of the MFA on the 20th anniversary of Ukraine as a non-nuclear state

20 years ago on January 14, 1994 in Moscow Presidents of Ukraine, the United States of America and Russia signed the Tri-lateral statement, which envisaged the practical implementation of Ukraine’s decision to become a nuclear-free state.

The United States of America and the Russian Federation on their own behalf and on behalf of the United Kingdom pledged to provide Ukraine with the security assurances in connection with entering into force by the START Treaty and Ukraine’s joining the NPT.

The Tri-lateral statement also envisaged actions to bring all nuclear activity in Ukraine under the IAEA safeguards. Besides, the document addressed the economic part of the denuclearization by noting the US commitment to provide Ukraine with significant financial compensation.

Thus, the Tri-lateral statement of 1994 provided the strong basis for the modern international security system, leading to enhanced nuclear security. At that moment a very powerful incentive to the global disarmament process was given.

Today Ukraine remains the non-nuclear state having abandoned its highly enriched uranium supplies two years ago.

In the framework of all international fora, primarily the nuclear security summits, our state as consistently upholding position on achievement of the important humanitarian aim – final destruction of all nuclear supplies in the world.

We urge the states, which possess this type of WMD, to continue active process of nuclear disarmament following the historical and unprecedented Ukrainian example.