Ukrainian crisis: «Nuclear» aspect

Abstract

In the article, the author conducts a thorough and objective analysis of the Ukrainian crisis, it would seem, from a completely obvious, but rather unexpected side. The author believes that when considering the Ukrainian problem, it is necessary to focus on its "nuclear aspect". According to the author, the acuteness of the Ukrainian crisis after the collapse of the USSR and Ukraine's independence was exacerbated, first of all, because of the desire to acquire its own "nuclear status" to "contain Russia", but to ensure which it did not have the appropriate resources. The author tells about the dramatic situation that developed during the division of the nuclear arsenal of the former USSR after its collapse. The author convincingly substantiates Russia's position regarding the confirmation of its rights to the absolute possession of nuclear weapons, since it was necessary to put them under reliable and unified control. The author rightly believes that after the collapse of the USSR and the formation of four nuclear states instead of one at once, on the territory of which nuclear arsenals were located, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT, 1968) would be violated. The author analyzes in detail the Budapest memorandum of 1994 and proves that its main essence was to convince Ukraine to confirm its "non-nuclear status". The author reveals the role of the US and NATO in providing "guarantees" to Ukraine to confirm its "non-nuclear status". In the current situation, according to the author, it was necessary to preserve international nuclear security as a single system, which also met the interests of Russia. A special place in the article is occupied by the analysis of the "Crimean issue", which is part of the Ukrainian crisis. The author reveals the essence of "nuclear parity" and argues that the "spread" of nuclear weapons breaks the entire existing system of international nuclear security and will not be able to ensure peace. The author comes to the conclusion that the "nuclear aspect" is the main meaning of the Ukrainian crisis, which should be resolved not by unilateral, but by universal efforts.