[markomalley]

Yes, the Budapest Agreement exists. But there are other assurances (also without the force of formal treaty) that also exist. Like our repeated assurances that NATO would not expand eastward... Such as this one:

Source: record of conversation between Mikhail Gorbachev and James Baker, Feb 9, 1990 https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/16117-document-06-record-conversation-between

Again, not a treaty.

But assurances given were critical in allowing for the reunification of Germany, the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, and freedom returning to central and eastern Europe.

[GonzoII]

" Like our repeated assurances that NATO would not expand eastward... Such as this one:”.

I could see that, so long as Russia doesn’t expand westward. ;0)