Ukraine PM and president seek revival of Budapest Memorandum for protection

Ukrainian leadership sought Tuesday the immediate creation of a commission comprised of defense ministers who represent signatories to the 1994 Budapest Memorandum.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, joined by acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov, said Tuesday:

"We're calling an urgent commission representing by the defense ministers of Russia, United States and Britain as guarantor states under the already known 'sad' Budapest Memorandum, to prevent an escalation of the conflict."

Under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum -- signed by Russia, Ukraine, the U.S., and the U.K. -- Ukraine is assured of protection from threats or use of force against its territorial integrity or political independence in exchange for giving up its nuclear weapons.

[Interfax Ukraine News Agency]