Nuclear Ukraine: Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova’s recent statement has raised eyebrows and prompted discussions about the possibility of a “nuclear Ukraine.”
This assertion comes in the wake of the European Union’s perceived lack of response to Kyiv’s statements regarding their desire for nuclear status.
Zakharova did not mince words when she suggested that given the current political landscape in some EU countries, particularly with figures like German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock in power, it’s not entirely inconceivable that they might entertain the idea of a nuclear-armed Ukraine.
She referred to this as a “theater of the absurd” and pointed out that there has been little reaction from the EU despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy making statements about Ukraine’s nuclear aspirations at international forums, such as the Munich Conference.
Ukraine’s longing for nuclear capabilities has been a recurring theme in recent years. Ukrainian representatives have expressed regret over not possessing nuclear weapons and have even explored the idea of creating a “dirty bomb.” Zelenskyy’s speech at the UN General Assembly in September included references to Ukraine’s past nuclear arsenal and highlighted that Russia, in his view, should not possess nuclear weapons.
In February 2022, during the Munich Security Conference, Zelenskyy hinted at the possibility of Ukraine invalidating the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, an agreement that enforces Ukraine’s nuclear-free status.
Russia, in response, has emphasized that a lasting resolution to the Ukrainian conflict can only be achieved if Kyiv ceases hostilities and terrorist activities, and if Western nations refrain from supplying Ukraine with weaponry. Moscow has consistently maintained that Ukraine’s sovereignty should be based on its neutral, non-aligned, and nuclear-free status, as outlined in previous agreements.
The Russian government has expressed grave concerns regarding Kyiv’s statements about potentially revising Ukraine’s nuclear-free status. Such a move would not only jeopardize the international nuclear non-proliferation regime but also raise serious questions about regional security and stability.
As the discussions continue, the implications of a “nuclear Ukraine” remain uncertain, but they certainly underscore the complex dynamics at play in Eastern Europe and the broader global security landscape.