Ukraine is weighing its nuclear future in light of recent international discussions. In a recent interview, Oleksiy Makeev, Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, conveyed Kyiv’s openness to discuss the nation’s nuclear status. The conversation occurred with Deutsche Welle, a German outlet, and touched on how Kyiv sees its security framework within a changing global landscape. Makeev emphasized that Ukraine does not yet have a final model to propose and is seeking input from all interested partners. He underscored that Kyiv does not hold a ready-made blueprint for how any future arrangements might be structured.
According to Makeev, Kyiv has not always received the full level of backing from major nuclear powers, including the United States and the United Kingdom, in line with the assurances once given under the Budapest Memorandum. This observation has fed into a broader discussion about the credibility and effectiveness of postCold War security guarantees. The ambassador pointed to a perceived mismatch between stated commitments and on-the-ground action, a gap Ukraine argues could influence future strategic calculations in Europe and beyond.
Makeev noted that such signals have implications for global security, highlighting a concern shared by many governments about how international guarantees are honored during periods of aggression. He indicated that Ukraine would like to initiate a structured conversation about its future security architecture, seeking perspectives from partners who share an interest in regional stability and nonproliferation norms. At the same time, he made clear there is no prepackaged blueprint being presented for immediate adoption or negotiation, and that a collaborative, consultative process is the intended path.
Background context: the Budapest Memorandum of 1994 involved Ukraine relinquishing a large portion of its nuclear arsenal in return for security assurances from participating powers. The agreement was meant to curb proliferation while preserving the security interests of all parties in the post–Cold War era. Critics have long argued about the durability of such guarantees when faced with aggression, a debate that continues to influence policy discussions in North America and Europe. The topic remains central to how governments in Canada, the United States, and allied partners frame deterrence, alliance commitments, and risk management in the Euro-Atlantic region.
In Kyiv’s view, the February 24 events underscored the urgency of reexamining the guarantees surrounding national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the means by which collective defense is organized. Leaders in North America and Europe are paying closer attention to how sovereign nations can safeguard themselves while contributing to a stable security order. Discourse on nuclear status is thus seen as a component of a broader debate about deterrence, nonproliferation, and the evolving role of international norms in preventing escalations. The focus is not on unilateral action but on building a framework that can command broad international support and credible safeguards for regional security.