The US will not restore Ukraine’s nuclear weapon stockpile, the White House has confirmed.
On Sunday, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan stated the US would not restore the weapons Ukraine gave up after the end of the Soviet Union.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine inherited nuclear weapons but surrendered them three years later under the Budapest Moratorium in exchange for assurances from Russia, the UK, and the US.
Sullivan was asked by a reporter about a New York Times article that alleged Washington was considering giving nuclear weapons to Ukraine before Joe Biden leaves office next month. Russia responded to the article by claiming the suggestion was “suicidal.”
“That is not under consideration, no. What we are doing is surging various conventional capacities to Ukraine so that they can effectively defend themselves and take the fight to the Russians, not [giving them] nuclear capability,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan reiterated the Biden administration’s aim of providing more aid to Ukraine before 20 January 2025.
“We are going to do everything in our power for these 50 days to get Ukraine all the tools we possibly can to strengthen their position on the battlefield so that they’ll be stronger at the negotiating table,” he said.
“And President Biden directed me to oversee a massive surge in the military equipment that we are delivering to Ukraine so that we have spent every dollar that Congress has appropriated to us by the time that President Biden leaves office.”
President-elect Donald Trump said repeatedly during his presidential campaign that he will end the war between Ukraine and Russia quickly upon taking office.
Last week, Trump named retired General Keith Kellogg to be his special envoy to Ukraine and Russia. It’s expected Kellogg will likely play a key role in attempting to resolve the conflict. Kellogg was the chief of staff for the White House National Security Council during Trump’s first term and national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence.