7/27/2019 US UK Ukraine Stmt Budapest Memo
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US/UK/Ukraine Press Statement on the Budapest Memorandum
Meeting
- On 5 March 2014, US Secretary of State John Kerry hosted a
meeting in Pariswith the Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom,
William Hague, and the ActingForeign Minister of Ukraine, Andriy
Deshchytsia.
- The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the urgent question
of the BudapestMemorandum, the agreement signed by the Governments
of the United States of
America, the United Kingdom and Russia in 1994. The United
States had conveyed aninvitation to the Russian Federation to the
meeting. We deeply regret that the RussianFederation declined to
attend.
- The Budapest Memorandum sets out the obligations of
signatories in return forUkraine giving up its nuclear weapons.
Under its terms, the three parties commit torefrain from the threat
or use of force against Ukraines territorial integrity.
TheMemorandum also obliges the UK, US and Russia to consult in the
event of a situationarising where the memorandum commitments are
questioned.
- Ukraine voluntarily surrendered the worlds third largest
nuclear weapons arsenalin exchange for these assurances. The three
Governments treat these assurances withutmost seriousness, and
expect Russia to as well. Russia has chosen to act unilaterally
and militarily. The United Kingdom and United States will
continue to support Ukrainessovereignty and territorial integrity
and we commend the new Ukrainian government fornot taking actions
that might escalate the situation. Russias continued violation
ofUkraines sovereignty and territorial integrity can only degrade
Russias internationalstanding and lead to greater political and
economic consequences.
- In the meeting, the Governments of the United States, United
Kingdom andUkraine discussed steps needed to restore Ukraines
territorial integrity and called onRussia to engage in
consultations with Ukraine as they have committed to in theBudapest
memorandum.
- The United States, United Kingdom and Ukraine agreed that
direct talks betweenUkraine and Russia, facilitated as needed by
members of the international community,are crucial to resolving the
current situation. They also agreed that internationalobservers
should be deployed immediately in Ukraine, especially in eastern
Ukraine andCrimea. The three governments reaffirmed the importance
of protecting the rights of all
