Denuclearization of Ukraine

Question 1

Relations between USSR and USA during mid-1980s

Answer 1

relationships were improving significantly, leaders (Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan) got along well, were able to agree on arms agreements, Reagan’s attitude towards USSR changed due to Gorbachev’s policy of Glasnost (transparency, openness of gov’t institutions) and Perestroika (reform that de-centralized control of businesses)

Question 2

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

Answer 2

Dec 8, 1987: required both to eliminate all of their intermediate-range missiles, seen as a diplomatic thawing of tensions and arms races

Question 3

USSR’s Economic and Internal Struggles

Answer 3

USSR was struggling to keep up with USA, withdrew Soviet troops from Afghanistan, introduced changes in EE which loosened control and withdrawal of troops, Communist states overthrew or transformed the USSR such as Yugoslavia, Poland, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, etc.

Question 4

Fall of the Berlin Wall

Answer 4

Nov 9, 1989: signified the end of Soviet military influence, republics of USSR started to declare independence, Gorbachev couldn’t prevent it

Question 5

Ukraine’s Independence

Answer 5

1991: Ukraine voted in favour of independence and signified the dissolution of USSR

Question 6

Ukraine’s Independence

Answer 6

1991: Ukraine voted in favour of independence and signified the dissolution of USSR

Question 7

Trilateral Statement

Answer 7

Jan 14, 1994: established by Boris Yeltsin (Russia), Leonid Kravchuk (Ukraine), and Bill Clinton (USA), and in which Ukraine agreed to transfer NWs to Russia and join NPT as a NNS, USA and USSR would provide compensation and security assurance (no force or threat of against territorial integrity or political independence of former Soviet states)

Question 8

Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances

Answer 8

Dec 19, 1994: presidents continued to discuss the terms of the Trilateral Statement and expanded to include UK

Question 9

Important Aspects of the Budapest Memorandum

Answer 9

Ukraine’s accession to NPT, commitment to giving up NWs, changes in international situations (end of the Cold War), the 3 agree to respect independence and borders, refrain from threat of war against U unless necessary for self-defence, no economic pressure, immediate action to provide assistance if U is a victim of aggression, not to use NWs against NNS unless for self-defence, consult during a situation regarding fulfilment fo commitments

Question 10

Ukraine’s Accession to the NPT

Answer 10

Dec 5, 1994: acceded to the NPT, by 1996 had returned all NWs to Russia

Question 11

Future Implications

Answer 11

Russia’s invasion of U in 2014 and 2022 which contradicted the memorandum