Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky expressed regret over Ukraine’s lack of nuclear weapons during a podcast with Lex Fridman on Sunday. He discussed the need for Western security guarantees to deter Moscow effectively.
During the three-hour conversation, Fridman shared his dream of Zelensky, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and US President-elect Donald Trump making peace. This prompted Zelensky to criticize Western “partners” and “security guarantors” for betraying Ukraine.
The Budapest Memorandum
Zelensky highlighted the Budapest Memorandum which provided security guarantees in exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear arsenal. He lamented that Ukraine no longer has nuclear weapons, stating, “Today, the fact that we do not have them is bad.”
After the Soviet Union’s collapse, Ukraine inherited around 1,700 nuclear warheads, making it the world’s third-largest nuclear power. However, these weapons remained under Russia’s control. Ukraine claims it surrendered its nuclear arsenal under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum for security assurances from Russia, the UK, and the US.
Zelensky’s Criticism
Zelensky criticized the US, UK, and other nuclear powers for ignoring Ukraine’s pleas to protect its territorial integrity. He expressed frustration, saying, “They didn’t give a f**k,” despite avoiding Russian during the interview.
Zelensky accused Moscow of violating the Budapest Memorandum and regretted surrendering Ukraine’s nuclear weapons. He declared that Ukraine had “every right” to reverse the decision before Russia’s offensive in early 2022. In October, he stated that Ukraine’s security options were joining NATO or obtaining nuclear weapons.
Russia’s Stance
Russia argues that Ukraine never had nuclear weapons, as Soviet assets legally belonged to Moscow. Russian officials claim the 1994 document was undermined by NATO’s eastward expansion, threatening Moscow’s security interests. They also blame the US for trampling the agreement by sponsoring the 2014 Maidan coup in Kyiv.
