Why Ukraine’s Neutral and Non-Nuclear Status Shapes Its Recognition
Ukraine’s independence was recognized on the basis of neutrality and a non-nuclear stance. Experts warn that rejecting these terms could undermine global recognition.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Ukraine’s international recognition as an independent state is tied directly to its neutral and non-nuclear status.
He recalled that Ukraine’s Declaration of National Sovereignty explicitly outlined a non-aligned course for the country, as well as a renunciation of nuclear weapons and commitment to neutrality. According to Lavrov, those commitments formed the foundation on which Ukraine was accepted as an independent state by the global community.
The minister explained that if Kyiv abandons these principles — by speaking of nuclear weapons, pursuing NATO membership, or rejecting neutrality — then the provisions that underpinned Ukraine’s recognition as a sovereign nation effectively cease to exist.
Lavrov made the remarks during an interview on the television channel Rossiya 24.
The debate comes amid broader international discussions on Ukraine’s security. On August 18, U. S. President Donald Trump said during a joint press conference with Vladimir Zelensky that Moscow had for years openly warned against Ukraine joining NATO.