Why Doesn't Ukraine Have Nuclear Weapons?

Since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, there are been a lot of concern regarding Russia’s nuclear arsenal and Ukraine’s lack thereof. NBC News’ Joshua Johnson is joined by former U.S. ambassador to Russia and NBC News analyst Michael McFaul to take a look back at when and why Ukraine gave up its nuclear arsenal.

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[alostbard]

There are millions of Native Americans that can attest that signed agreements do not mean anything. Whoever has the biggest stick wins.

[Kwijibob]

this is why you never give up your weapons

[mav]

They did have the 3rd largest nuclear force in the world only behind the United States. They gave them up and the US, UK, and Russia offered to protect the national integrity of Ukraine... that aged badly.

[swizzle]

This is exactly why countries like North Korea ain't giving up their weapons. Every US allie is wondering if the US will defend them if they ever get attacked, especially the ones that gave up their weapons and also NATO countries.

Ukraine isn’t apart of NATO but I’m sure if they didn’t give up their Nukes, Russia wouldn’t have invaded.

[jessieplaysmusic]

I love how we try so hard to get people to give up there nukes. But every time they do they get invaded. Hahahah

[ruthsikorski]

Oh like we can all trust their promises! Never give up your own weapons in favor of someone else protecting you. They have their interests in mind, not yours.

[crxdelsolsir]

Ukraine has been an example for others in so many ways.
Little do people know it is also an example for both the Allies and Enemy, let me explain.
Ukraine is an example of:

What happens when you give up your weapons
When you TRUST others for your protection
What others Promises really mean
What an Agreement really do
How valuable an already Democratic country really means to the West
What Russian promises mean
What US promises mean
As well as the current examples of
What a real President/Leader really is
What motivated citizens willing to defend their country really looks like

[traetonmcglohon]

Kim Jung Un - "Never give up your nukes"

[KevinP]

North Korea is NEVER giving up there nukes after seeing this war lolol

[sagm]

This is exactly why it’s our responsibility to help Ukraine as much as possible!!

[Paranoidtimes]

it sets the mood... no one will give up nukes on a promise

[tartvtheafricanrepublic]

*Great Question?*

This Is Why Many Countries Want To Have Their Nuclear Weapons. If Ukraine Retained Their Nuclear Weapons, Putin Wouldn't Have Dared To Invade Them.

[ednaachieng]

Ukraine was conned into giving up their nukes for falsed promises. They should have kept their nukes, and no one, absolutely no one would have ever dreamed of attacking them. Let all nuke holders take notice. Do not, repeat do not give up your nukes at any, and all costs.

[jannamwatson]

6:45 ... did he really just say that North Korea might actually consider surrendering their nukes to the US? The reasons that will *never* happen are infinite, but our absolute inability to follow through on promises like those we made in the Budapest Agreement are exactly why they never will.

[Tottenham]

Lesson learnt: never give up your weapons

[ronpearson]

Nuclear war puts rich people's skin in the game, it's not just poverty drafters and pee-ons getting killed.

[lorenzomyers]

Give you enemies your weapons only to have them turn on you

[karolyndurrenmatt]

A promise of a respectable man is a guarantee.

[bakkusbar]

When the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, there were thousands of former Soviet nuclear warheads, as well as hundreds of intercontinental ballistic missiles and bombers, left on Ukraine’s territory, which it decided to transfer to Russia. Ukraine never had an independent nuclear weapons arsenal, or control over these weapons, but agreed to remove former Soviet weapons stationed on its territory.

[frankyfourfingers]

"Democracies don't fight each other, democracies don't invade each other"
... freakin' Americans, man, what a bunch.