Zelenskyy Calls Ukraine's Nuclear Disarmament 'Stupid, Illogical'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed regret over Ukraine's decision to relinquish its nuclear weapons under the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, deeming it a 'stupid and illogical' choice. In an interview, he noted that Ukraine exchanged its nuclear arsenal for security guarantees that ultimately failed, particularly after Russia's annexation of Crimea and the invasion in 2022. Zelenskyy emphasized that genuine security assurances, which he believes should have come from NATO, were necessary instead of the guarantees provided by Russia, the U.S., and the U.K. He asserted that in hindsight, nuclear weapons should have been traded for a robust military alliance or strong military support. The president criticized the larger economies that pressured Ukraine into disarmament, stating that this decision led to war rather than peace. He has called for a reassessment of security strategies to effectively deter future aggression from Russia.