You trusted the US...
Posted on 02/06/2022 6:49:06 AM PST by george76
But history shows the denuclearization to have been a chaotic upheaval that shook with infighting, reversals and discord among the country’s government and military. At the time, both Ukrainian and American experts questioned the wisdom of atomic disarmament. The deadly weapons, some argued, were the only reliable means of deterring Russian aggression.
Today Ukraine has no easy path to producing or acquiring the materials to build a bomb. Even so, the nuclear genie is once again stirring as Russian troops encircle the nation and wage a shadow war in its easternmost provinces.
“We gave away the capability for nothing,” said Andriy Zahorodniuk, a former defense minister of Ukraine. Referring to the security assurances Ukraine won in exchange for its nuclear arms, he added: “Now, every time somebody offers us to sign a strip of paper, the response is, ‘Thank you very much. We already had one of those some time ago.’”
They believed a Clinton. LOL
This excerpt from the article is devastating,
“We gave away the capability for nothing,” said Andriy Zahorodniuk, a former defense minister of Ukraine. Referring to the security assurances Ukraine won in exchange for its nuclear arms, he added: “Now, every time somebody offers us to sign a strip of paper, the response is, ‘Thank you very much. We already had one of those some time ago.’”
Laughable I don’t think the author really understands the situation. Have the Ukrainians really totally disarmed and does one not understand the danger of using them in close proximity?
I’d think any country would desire to become nuclear capable. Instant improvement with diplomacy, invasion deterrent, and energy production.
The Soviet Union had the nuclear weapons and the Soviet troops were responsible for nuclear weapons. Now that Ukraine is independent, they would had to create nuclear weapons on their own? Or did Ukraine actually possess nuclear weapons? And they gave them up to Russia at that time?
Look people. Bush 41’ was in charge when the Soviets disarmed. For that I am greatful but the rest of the US is totally unaware. When the government does it’s job nobody notices. It then becomes easy for the leftists to make up a crisis-real or imagined. 41’ was just good enough to lose. We have to do our part.
A 2016 study argues that the denuclearization of Ukraine was not a “stupid mistake” and that it is unclear that Ukraine would be better off as a nuclear state. The study argues that the push for Ukrainian independence was with a view to make it a nonnuclear state. The United States would also not have made Ukraine an exception when it came to the denuclearization of other post-Soviet states such as Belarus and Kazakhstan. The deterrent value of the nuclear weapons in Ukraine was also questionable, as Ukraine would have had to spend 12 to 18 months to establish full operational control over the nuclear arsenal left by the Russians. The ICBMs also had a range of 5,000–10,000 km (initially targeting the United States), which meant that they could only have been re-targeted to hit Russia’s far east. The air-launched cruise missiles (ALCMs) left by the Russians had been disabled by the Russians during the collapse of the Soviet Union, but even if they had been reconfigured and made to work by the Ukrainians, it is unlikely that they would have had a deterrent effect. Had Ukraine decided to establish full operational control of the nuclear weapons, it would have faced sanctions by the West and perhaps even a withdrawal of diplomatic recognition by the United States and other NATO allies. Ukraine would also likely have faced retaliatory action by Russia. Ukraine would also have struggled with replacing the nuclear weapons once their service life expired, as Ukraine did not have a nuclear weapons program.
Russia was the legal successor to the Soviet Union. It could have siezed every piece of Soviet military equipment post collapse (reorganization) and been rightfully able to under international law. They instead went with the CSTO. Now, Russia is reassembling itself.
The world powers acted to remove nukes from Ukraine because the corrupt government that emerged from communism there was literally selling every piece of Soviet military equipment that wasn’t nailed down to the highest bidder.
The notion that “democratic” Ukraine had a choice in the matter is risible.
I didn’t know Hot Air was still around.
They hated President Trump. They must be so pleased with the new administration.
Thank god that bunch of corrupt nazis don’t have nukes.
If they had nukes, the coup would have inherited them when they took power in Kiev.
Reminded me of an old Tom Lehrer song, “Who’s Next”
Ukraine today doesn’t have a factory to make a rifle cartridge.
If they have the capability to build missiles, then they can arm it with nukes. Some Ukrainians served in the Soviet Military Industry so they can figure out that part. The problem is that Ukraine isn't a wealthy nation. But with Russia threatening them, it might give them motivation to establish a missile factory.
You need some understanding of how societal decomposition takes place.
The reactors are all Soviet-built and mostly run on empty.
They are supported by Rosatom for their operations.
Everybody who could build a thing is working in Russia or China right now.
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