Zakharova: Ukraine's acquisition of nuclear weapons would violate non-proliferation treaty

The transfer of nuclear weapons to Kiev would violate the relevant non-proliferation treaty. This was stated in a commentary by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova published on the website of the ministry on 5 December.

We are talking about the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

"In case nuclear weapons are indeed transferred to the Kiev regime, it will be a direct violation of all NPT obligations by those who dare to do so," the commentary said.

Zakharova emphasized that Moscow cannot but be concerned about the statements by representatives of the Kiev regime, which call into question the viability of the Budapest memorandum and can be interpreted as a direct bid to revise Ukraine's nuclear-free status.

According to the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, this step will create risks to international security.

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On 1 December, the US president's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan , ruled out the possibility of returning nuclear weapons to Kiev. However, he noted that the USA would continue to provide Ukraine with assistance and arms supplies.

On 28 November, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a press conference following his state visit to Kazakhstan that any country that transfers nuclear weapons to Ukraine would violate its commitments on non-proliferation of such weapons. On November 19, Putin approved the updated nuclear doctrine. The Russian Federation called these changes a signal to the West about deterrence.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, whose term of office expired on May 20, said during his visit to the United States in October when speaking with President-elect Donald Trump that Kiev must either possess nuclear weapons or become a NATO member to win the current conflict.

The Budapest Memorandum was signed by the UK, Russia, the US and Ukraine on December 5, 1994. The document provided guarantees of Ukraine's territorial integrity in exchange for giving up nuclear weapons.

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