The war in Ukraine began with a violation of the Budapest Memorandum; it is not an accident, not a misunderstanding, but the result of a deliberate policy.
This was stated by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, at the Kyiv Security Forum.
“We must be absolutely clear about the nature of this war. It is not an accident, not a misunderstanding, and not an inevitable fog of conflict. It is the result of a sustained, deliberate policy, planned, executed, and defended at the highest level. It begins with the violation of the Budapest Memorandum,” Prince Harry said.
The member of the royal family also believes that deliberate attacks on civilians, mass killings, torture, sexual violence, and the forced deportation of people in Ukraine can be considered acts of genocide.
“The United States was part of the guarantee that Ukraine’s sovereignty and borders would be respected. This is a moment for American leadership. A moment for America to show that it can uphold its commitments under international treaties—not out of charity, but because of its enduring role in global security and strategic stability,” he emphasized.
Prince Harry added that Ukraine has earned the world’s respect through its leadership, resilience, and innovation.
“The question is no longer whether Ukraine will endure. You have already answered that. The question is whether the rest of the world will match your determination. Because one day this war will end. And history will not ask what we said; it will ask what we did,” the royal family member said.
The 18th Kyiv Security Forum is taking place in the capital of Ukraine — a leading international event for discussing issues of war, peace, and global security.
