WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statement on the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Budapest Memorandum:
“Thirty years ago, Ukraine, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia signed the Budapest Memorandum, denuclearizing Ukraine in exchange for ‘security assurances.’ This agreement was signed under the pretense of the goodwill of all parties involved in preserving peace and provided Ukraine with purely political, rather than legal, guarantees. Since then, Russia has proven time and time again that it does not negotiate in good faith and cannot be trusted to keep its international commitments.
“The Western response to Russia’s attempt to destroy Ukraine has been insufficient. We must deliver on our commitments and provide the necessary aid Ukraine needs to defend itself as well as true security guarantees to restore deterrence and prevent further Russian attacks on sovereign states.”
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