Ukraine’s nuclear knot: how the 1990–1994 package built an architecture that broke in 2014 and 2022

In debates about Ukraine’s future, one question keeps resurfacing, quietly at first and then ever louder: could Ukraine ever re-enter the nuclear club? After the collapse of the security assurances that once underpinned its denuclearisation, the issue is no longer confined to fringe commentary. 

 

It now sits at the intersection of law and survival, of the NPT’s rules and a state’s right to exist. This article asks the hardest version of the question: can Ukraine legally reclaim a nuclear status, and what would such a decision mean for the world that once persuaded it to disarm?

 

1) The inheritance moment: a vast arsenal without a sovereign nuclear status

After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine found itself hosting one of the largest nuclear arsenals in Europe. In practice, this was an unprecedented status: warheads were on Ukrainian territory, but command-and-control, permissive action links, and much of the operational chain remained embedded in Soviet, then Russian, systems.

That starting point matters. Ukraine’s decisions in 1990–1994 were not made in a moral vacuum. They were made under hard power realities and intense external pressure to preserve the global non-proliferation regime.

2) Arms control first, then non-proliferation: START I and the Lisbon Protocol

Sanctions Knockout: What the Blocking of Wise and Revolut Cards Means for Russians

The international payment service Wise has begun blocking cards issued to users from Russia and Belarus. The move follows the 19th package of European Union sanctions and further cuts many Russians and Belarusians off from global financial services. Customers are already receiving notifications that their cards will be disabled unless they confirm that they are citizens or legal residents of a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

What has Wise changed for its users

The restrictions cover both physical and virtual Wise cards linked to accounts held by Russian or Belarusian citizens, as well as by people who live in Russia. For these users, card functionality is being switched off. They can no longer pay in shops or online with their Wise card. They cannot withdraw cash from ATMs. They also lose the option to rely on the card to top up their balance, pay for digital subscriptions or cover everyday expenses abroad.

“Education is not only about knowledge, but about creating strong personalities” — Dr. Olga Azarova

Trend: Shift from knowledge-based learning to competency-based learning.

International Education Network MINIBOSS BUSINESS SCHOOL is the world’s № 1 brand in business education for kids and teens. For more than two decades, it has pioneered a new educational model that develops entrepreneurial, emotional, creative, and leadership skills in children aged 6–17, preparing them for success in the global economy.

“Education is not only about knowledge; it is about creating strong personalities who can lead, innovate, and transform society.” — Dr. Olga Azarova, Founder of MINIBOSS Business School

Curriculum Design: From Knowledge to Competence

Unlike traditional schooling, the MINIBOSS Curriculum is intentionally designed to balance theoretical learning with practical application. A curriculum map outlines a year-long scope and sequence, ensuring both structure and incremental personality development.