OPINION:
On Dec. 5, 1994, Ukraine signed an agreement wherein it would dispose of its nuclear weapons arsenal—then the world’s third-largest—in exchange for a guarantee by the U.S., U.K. and Russia to provide the country with security. Ukraine relinquished its nuclear weapons to Russia; a decade later Russia attacked it and occupied Crimea. In 2022, Russia attacked again and now occupies eastern provinces of Ukraine.
The U.S. should continue providing military equipment and supplies to Ukraine to belatedly comply with the security agreement we signed in 1994. Maybe we should provide loans to Ukraine instead of grants of funds and equipment, or have Ukraine repay us with its abundant supply of rare earth minerals, which we need. That could change the imminent deal President Trump is negotiating with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy (“Zelenskyy to travel to Washington over mineral deal,” Web, Feb. 25).
Unfortunately, Secretary of Defense Hegseth unwittingly set back peace negotiations when he said recently that Ukraine cannot go back to its pre-2014 borders. This relinquishes both the Crimea and land in eastern Ukraine to Russia. Hegseth also said the idea of Ukraine joining NATO is unrealistic and Europe must take on a greater role in the country’s security. This is a capitulation to Russia before negotiations even start, and it could increase Russian threats to Europe.
DONALD MOSKOWITZ
Londonderry, New Hampshire
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