Zelensky torn between “nuclear” and “NATO”… and Russia renews the “red line”

20th October 2024

2 minutes read

Zelensky torn between "nuclear" and "NATO"... and Russia renews the "red line"

Russia has reaffirmed the “red line” in front of Ukraine concerning its accession to NATO, a spark that ignited the worst conflict in Eastern Europe.

On Saturday, the Russian Foreign Ministry renewed its warning to Kyiv, stating that “Ukraine’s accession to NATO will make a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict impossible.” Ukraine’s membership in NATO is seen as the spark that ignited the ongoing war since February 2022.

Prior to this, in December 2021, Moscow presented two draft treaties containing requests termed “security guarantees,” which included a binding commitment that Ukraine would not join NATO. Russia fears that if Kyiv joins NATO, it would station alliance troops directly on its eastern borders, on a frontline threatening its security. Therefore, it also demanded a reduction of NATO forces stationed in Eastern Europe in general.

However, the United States and other NATO members rejected Moscow’s requests at that time and threatened economic sanctions before diplomatic talks between Moscow and Washington failed to defuse tensions, ultimately leading to the outbreak of war.

Between “nuclear” and “NATO“

In a speech delivered Thursday in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky raised the possibility that his country might seek to acquire nuclear weapons in an effort to deter Moscow if it could not join NATO.

Zelensky stated, “Either Ukraine possesses nuclear weapons to ensure its protection, or it will join some alliance,” adding that there is “no alliance as effective” as NATO. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine agreed to hand over Soviet nuclear weapons that it had, under an agreement signed in 1994 known as the “Budapest Memorandum.”

On Friday, Zelensky clarified in an interview with Ukrainian television that Ukraine prefers to be in NATO rather than possess nuclear weapons.

He said, “Our argument is that at the time of signing the Budapest Memorandum, we gave up nuclear weapons and received a guarantee of security for Ukraine and the integrity of its territory,” expressing regret that this memorandum was violated without “Russia being stopped.”

Zelensky added, “If Ukraine had not given up its nuclear weapons, it would be under the same umbrella as other nuclear powers not in NATO,” before affirming that Ukraine is a “peaceful country” and that “NATO today is better than any weapon.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on Zelensky‘s statements on Friday, considering them a “serious provocation.”

Putin said during a meeting with foreign journalists, “This is a serious provocation. Any action in this direction will receive an appropriate response.”

He pointed out that he was “not aware” if Ukraine could produce a nuclear weapon, deeming it “not difficult in the modern world.”

The Russian president added, “I can say right away that Russia will not allow this to happen under any circumstances.”