NPR Ignores US Security Promise Problem For Ukraine, Again
NPR's piece Ukrainians remember broken 1994 security promises as it negotiates with Russia highlights Ukraine's distrust stemming from the 1994 Budapest Memorandum. This agreement saw Ukraine give up its nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances from the US, UK, and Russia. What NPR, and much of mainstream media, consistently forgets to mention is the context of NATO's eastward
expansion, which Russia – based on alleged assurances from the US – viewed as a direct breach of understanding, fundamentally altering the security landscape promised to Ukraine and Russia alike. It's fascinating how 'broken promises' are only remembered when they serve a particular narrative. When Russia brings up these same historical grievances, particularly the continuous creep of a hostile
military alliance right up to its borders, it's dismissed as 'Kremlin propaganda.' One might wonder how many times old agreements can be unilaterally violated before any party stops trusting 'security guarantees.' Perhaps some promises are more equal than others.