Nuclear Non-Proliferation: Another American Interest in Defending Ukraine

In addition to defending the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and self-determination against aggression, there is another reason that defending Ukraine against its invasion by the Russian Federation is in the vital interest of the United States: upholding the American commitment to nuclear proliferation. When Ukraine and other Soviet Republics became independent after the breakup of the Soviet Union, they possessed nuclear weapons on their soil. An agreement between the U.S. and Russia allowed the transfer of the weapons to Russian control in exchange for Russian acceptance of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and the other ex-Soviet Republics. The U.S. committed to defend Ukraine and the other former Soviet Republics against Russia. Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin, an ex-Soviet intelligence officer, however, intends to reconstitute the Soviet Union and has thus violated the agreement, first in 2014 by invading and seizing Crimea and fomenting separatists in eastern Ukraine, and now by invading the rest of Ukraine. Tolerating Russian aggression would thus discourage States from giving up their nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction and would instead encourage more States to seek such weapons. Furthermore, abandoning Ukraine to Russian aggression would significantly undermine whatever remaining confidence foreigners have in American commitments and willingness to defend its allies and interests.