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Statement by the Delegation of Ukraine under cluster 1 “Nuclear Weapons” of the UN General Assembly First Committee

(21 October 2024, New York) 

Madame Chair, 

Ukraine aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union. We would like to make some additional remarks in my national capacity.

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

We stress the importance of taking concrete actions to pursue nuclear disarmament in accordance with Article VI of the NPT. These actions should aim at a significant reduction in the global stockpile of nuclear weapons, particularly emphasizing the responsibility of states with the largest arsenals.

Ukraine considers the universalization and entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) as a matter of priority. The CTBT’s entry into force would represent a significant milestone in our collective efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation and advance disarmament.

We would like to emphasize the urgency of starting negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty, in accordance with document CD/1299 and its mandate.

Ukraine highly values the crucial role the IAEA plays in coordinating international efforts to secure the non-proliferation regime and facilitate the peaceful use of nuclear energy worldwide. We fully support the IAEA’s efforts to universalize its safeguards implementation mechanism.

Madame Chair,

We are approaching the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s historic contribution to the global nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament.

By abandoning the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal and acceding to the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon state, our country has demonstrated its steadfast commitment to a nuclear weapons-free world. This decision was intended to bolster the international non-proliferation regime and contribute to global security.

In 2014, the Russian Federation, a nuclear-weapon state, started its armed aggression against Ukraine and occupied part of our territory. In 2022, Russia launched an unprovoked, unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine.

Unfortunately, the security assurances provided by Russia to Ukraine through the 1994 Budapest Memorandum failed to deter Russian aggression, as there were no immediate costs for their betrayal.

The political assurances the Budapest Memorandum provided rested on the goodwill and self-restraint of the guarantors, an agreement that could work between allies but not potential adversaries.

In this regard, we believe that states must be protected by explicit external commitments, backed by practical arrangements, including military support if necessary.

Despite the ongoing Russian aggression, Ukraine continues to comply with the provisions of the NPT and remains a responsible participant in the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Against this backdrop, Moscow’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric, the announced deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus following the agreement between the two countries, Russia’s suspension of its participation in the New START Treaty, and its withdrawal of ratification of the CTBT gravely undermine the international disarmament and non-proliferation architecture.

Madame Chair,

We are deeply concerned with a new military doctrine of Belarus, which incorporates nuclear weapons as a preventive deterrence measure. Such a move by a non-nuclear weapon state represents a clear threat to the international non-proliferation regime.

Ukraine strongly condemns the advancement of the DPRK’s nuclear and missile activities, including its repeated ballistic missile launches and provocative, escalatory rhetoric.

We reiterate the need for Pyongyang to abide by all relevant UN Security Council resolutions and return promptly to full compliance with the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon state as well as to the IAEA safeguards.

Today, the DPRK has, in fact, become a major supplier of munitions to the Russian Federation in violation of the UN sanctions regime.

The DPRK’s destabilizing activities are not limited to illegal missile tests, weapons transfers or cyber operations to pursue its WMD program. According to available data, approximately 11,000 regular units of the DPRK are expected to be deployed to fight together with Russian troops against Ukraine’s Armed Forces in the nearest time.

Ukraine also expresses its serious concern about the situation regarding the implementation by the Islamic Republic of Iran of its obligations under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and Safeguards Agreement under the NPT.

We reiterate our call upon Iran to fully comply with its international obligations and to immediately cease all activities in violation of these agreements.

Madame Chair,

The Russian Federation poses unacceptable threats to nuclear facilities in Ukraine by continuing the illegal occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant (ZNPP).

Moscow is also considering strikes on Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and their infrastructure, critical substations, aiming to disconnect the plants from the power grid during the winter months, which may leave large parts of our country without electricity, further increasing the risk of a catastrophic nuclear accident.

Ukraine recalls the Joint Communiqué, adopted at the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held on 15-16 June 2024 in Switzerland, at which it was emphasized that any use of nuclear energy and nuclear installations must be safe, secured, safeguarded and environmentally sound, and that Ukrainian nuclear power plants and installations, including the ZNPP, must remain under full sovereign control of Ukraine in line with IAEA principles.

In this regard, we call on the international community to unite in implementing the Peace Formula, particularly its first element - “Radiation and Nuclear Safety.”

Thank you, Madame Chair.