§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in view of recent events in Russia they approve of Ukraine's unwillingness to transfer nuclear weapons currently on its territory to Russian territory, or to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyNo. We believe that Ukraine's long term interests will be best served by rapid and unconditional ratification of START I, accession to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and dismantlement of the nuclear weapons which remain on Ukrainian territory.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will take any steps to enhance the military confidence and security of Ukraine, in accordance with Article 6 of the Treaty on the Principles of Relations and Co-operation, which they signed with Ukraine on 10th February, and when that treaty will come into force.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyWe have already taken a number of steps to enhance the military confidence and security of Ukraine. During his visit to Ukraine in September, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence and his Ukrainian counterpart signed an agreement which sets out the framework for future defence co-operation.
We have said we are prepared to offer Ukraine security assurances on its accession to the Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state. We have also congratulated Ukraine upon their satisfactory performance so far under the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty, and have urged that they continue to reduce their conventional forces in line with their commitments under that treaty.
The United Kingdom completed in June the procedures to ratify the Treaty on the Principles of Relations and Co-operation signed with Ukraine on 10th February 1993. The Ukrainian Parliament has not yet completed its ratification process. The treaty cannot come into force until it has done so.