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In reply to the discussion: Russian and Ukraine troops battle in south, prompting fears that invasion has begun [View all]Tommy_Carcetti
(43,622 posts)......you clearly remain ignorant of what was agreed upon in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, or even who its parties were and what the respective promises were.
The parties to the Budapest Memorandum were Ukraine, Russia, US and the UK. What Ukraine agreed to do was to disgorge itself of the nuclear arsenal left within its borders from the old Soviet days. In return, Russia, the US and the UK would all agree to respect the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine within its existing borders, and to refrain from force or threats of force against Ukraine. As part of the agreement, Russia was allowed to keep its existing bases for its Black Sea naval fleet in Crimea but that did not extend to Crimea proper, which was to remain in Ukraine's hands.
Now, first, you have to convince me that the United States did anything to interfere with Ukraine's sovereignty, that it was somehow behind the regime change that occurred after Yanukovych left the country. Someone handing out cookies does not prove this. Sorry.
Furthermore, even if handing out cookies by a US official was somehow a violation of the Budapest Memorandum, it would not have extinguished Russia's obligations under the treaty. Russia would still have to abide by its terms. Sending in troops into Crimea, and then annexing Crimea into the Russian Federation, clearly violates the terms of the Budapest Memorandum.
Get it now? Good. Now get back to class. Prof's talking about the Rule against Perpetuities and I don't think you want to be distracted for that one.