Check against delivery

 

 

 

Statement 

by the Delegation of Ukraine at the Main Committee I 

of the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

(5 May 2026, New York)

 

Mr. Chair,

We would like to congratulate you on your election as Main Committee I Chair and assure you of our full support.

The delegation of Ukraine aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. We would like to make additional remarks in our national capacity.

Ukraine believes that the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) remains the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation regime and the essential foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament and a key multilateral instrument for international peace, security and stability.

We consistently stand for reducing nuclear arsenals, stopping the modernization of nuclear weapons, and overall decrease of nuclear weapons' role in military and strategic doctrines of states. 

We underscore the urgent need for practical and immediate risk reduction measures to prevent nuclear escalation, particularly in the current security environment.

Ukraine stresses that effective, credible and irreversible nuclear disarmament cannot be achieved without robust verification. Verification is a fundamental component of building trust, ensuring compliance, and maintaining the integrity of disarmament commitments under Article VI of the NPT.

Nevertheless, Ukraine strongly believes that complete and irreversible nuclear disarmament is the only guarantee of humanity's protection from the deadly consequences of possible use of nuclear weapons. 

Today, following the expiry of the New START Treaty, no legally binding framework remains to regulate the world’s largest nuclear arsenals, thereby increasing strategic uncertainty.

In this context, we underscore that Russia bears responsibility for this situation as a result of its persistent non-compliance with the Treaty. We welcome the willingness of the United States to negotiate a new agreement on strategic arms control.

Ukraine stresses the need to promote universal adherence to and the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Russia’s revocation of its ratification is a reckless action that weakens global efforts to achieve the CTBT’s entry into force. In this regard, we call on all States that have not yet done so, in particular those listed in Annex II, to sign and ratify the CTBT without any delay.

Ukraine also calls for the immediate commencement and early conclusion of a treaty banning the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices (FMCT) and calls for the immediate launch of negotiations on an FMCT on the basis of document CD/1299.

Mr. Chair,

Ukraine demonstrated a proactive approach and set a pattern to follow in November 1994 after it joined the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon state.

Ukraine’s historic decision to renounce the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal was backed up by international security guarantees, enshrined in the Budapest Memorandum. 

Brutal violation of the Budapest Memorandum by the nuclear-weapon state has damaged the whole UN-based security system.

These unlawful actions, coupled with irresponsible, dangerous and escalatory nuclear rhetoric and repeated threats of nuclear weapon use in the context of its illegal war against Ukraine, undermine the entire non-proliferation regime.

The sad experience of our country has shown to the whole world that disarmament without reliable security guarantees can be dangerous. 

That is why achievement of real collective security assurances remains a key task of our agenda.

Ukraine is convinced that granting credible security assurances in the form of an international legally binding instrument will substantially enhance the nuclear non-proliferation regime, improve mutual trust and overall stability.

Finally, Ukraine will continue to enhance its own defense capabilities and work towards establishing effective, legally binding security guarantees for non-nuclear-weapon states.

Thank you.