There are a LOT of claims
and half-truths that Russia should have some “special rights” over Ukraine.
Here is the truth on the basis of the actually signed treaties
What has been signed is the Budapest Agreement of 1994. It is a security agreement in which Russia, the United States and others guarantee Ukraine’s independence. The fact is, therefore, that after 1994, Russia has NO claim to Ukraine, its territory, population, resources, etc. Russia in 1994, clearly recognized Ukraine as an independent country to which Russia has no rights or claims.
In addition, there are the Minsk I and II Peace Treaties (which both parties have broken). There is nothing in the MINSK I and II agreements that contains any restrictions on Ukraine’s sovereignty or gives Russia any right over Ukraine’s territory.
And it is these agreements that Putin breaks, both in 2014 when he invaded Ukraine and occupied both Donbas and Crimea, and here again in 2022 when he tried to change these agreements by force.
Finally, there is the UN Act, where Article 51 says;
” Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations..”
So in short, it means that members of the UN have the right to self-defence IF they are attacked in their own territory!
There may be a surprise, but Ukraine actually signed the United Nations Act as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic as early as June 26, 1945. Ukraine is, therefore, among the first countries to sign a UN Charter, becoming a founding member of the UN among the first 51 countries.
So, Ukraine is a “member of the UN” and therefore has the RIGHT to “individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations”. It includes the right to help from other UN countries.
So, in terms of treaties, we can conclude 4 things
1. Ukraine is recognized by the UN as an independent nation, dating back to June 26, 1945, as a founding member of the UN.
2. When signing the Budapest Agreement in 1994, Russia clearly recognized Ukraine as an independent country over which Russia has no rights or claims.
3. The Minsk I and II agreements are peace agreements. There is nothing in them that restricts Ukraine’s sovereignty or gives Russia any right over Ukraine’s territory.
4. Under Article 51 of the UN Act, Ukraine has the right to self-defence WHEN attacked in its own territory.
And it is impossible to claim that there have not been Russian soldiers in many parts of Ukraine after 24 February 2022. So Ukraine is subject to a war of aggression, i.e.” armed attack “started by Russia, both in 2014 and in 2022), which is undisputedly taking place on Ukraine’s territory.
Conclusion: The Budapest Agreement of 1994 is the ONLY signed treaty concerning Ukraine’s independence. And according to that, Russia has no rights over Ukraine.
And NONE of these signed agreements places any restrictions on Ukraine’s right to join NATO, the EU, defend itself, etc.
Links to more info
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsk_agreements
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine_and_the_United_Nations#:~:text=Ukraine%20signed%20the%20Charter%20of,United%20Nations%20among%2051%20countries.
https://legal.un.org/repertory/art51.shtml
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