Zelensky hints at confronting U.S. over Budapest security failures

Ukrainian President Zelensky hinted that he is
considering raising with the U.S. and Great Britain their failure to uphold the
security guarantees that are alleged to have been guaranteed to Ukraine by the
1994 Budapest Memorandum in exchange for surrendering its nuclear weapons
inherited from the Soviet Union. That’s the purpose of putting the Budapest
memorandum on the national poll to be held alongside elections on Oct. 25, he
said in an interview with four television networks that was broadcast. He said
he needs the public opinion on this matter to move forward in his attempts to
renew Ukraine’s defense capabilities. Recent agreements on Ukraine’s defense
cooperation with Great Britain and Turkey
are not by chance, but are aimed at fully renewing the nation’s sovereign
defenses, Zelensky said.

“I am confident that all the signed memoranda and
agreements should be fulfilled. And I am confident: if they are not being
fulfilled, Ukraine is not supposed to constantly knock on doors and yell, ‘How
come it’s not being fulfilled!’ I believe, very simply, if it’s not being
fulfilled, we have the right then to do as we believe (as necessary). And
therein lies the state’s sovereignty,” said Zelensky, as reported by the
pravda.com.ua news site. Otherwise, Ukraine won’t be an equal at the
negotiating table, but instead “will be constantly pleading – whether for
loans, ships, bulletproof vests, or masks,” he added.

Recall, Zelensky announced on Oct. 14 that a national poll,
not legally binding, will be held alongside the local elections on Oct. 25. The
fifth question in the poll will be, “Do you support Ukraine’s right to use the
security guarantees, as determined by the Budapest memorandum, to renew its
state sovereignty and territorial integrity?”

Zenon Zawada: Ukraine’s
only hope in withstanding Russian military aggression and hybrid warfare has
been a tight alliance with the U.S., which is precisely why former President
Poroshenko adopted this as his foreign policy. Therefore, Zelensky is in no
position to seriously question or challenge the U.S. in its defense of Ukraine,
regardless of such perceived sins as failing to uphold the Budapest Memorandum
in 2014. We believe Zelensky’s foreign policy team understands this, as well as
the critical role of the IMF in ensuring Ukrainian independence from the
Russian World.

That’s why we view the Budapest memorandum being
mentioned in the national poll this Sunday as purely an election stunt aimed at
generating interest in The People’s Servant party among Russophile Ukrainians
in the southeastern regions. This electorate is most interested in questioning
the role of the U.S. in Ukraine, and it’s this electorate that is most reliable
for Zelensky and his party (particularly young voters). We don’t see this stunt
as being especially effective. And once the elections are over, the public will
return to the reality that Zelensky has absolutely no leverage to make demands
of the U.S., lest he capitulate to Russia.