On April 23, 2018 the Second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) started its work in Geneva.

During the event, among other issues, urgent matters are being discussed concerning the implementation of the NPT, in particular, in the context of ensuring non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and disarmament, as well as overcoming the growing challenges in this area. The majority of the participants of the session underscore the importance of the Treaty as the key international instrument in the field of international peace and security, stress upon their adherence to its provisions and principles, emphasize the need for progress in nuclear disarmament as soon as possible.

Y.Klymenko, Permanent Representative of Ukraine in Geneva in his statement during the general debates of the event, in particular, drew attention to Russia’s flagrant violation of the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurance in connection with the accession of Ukraine to the NPT, the deployment of means of delivery of nuclear weapons in the temporarily occupied by Russia Crimea, which poses a direct threat to the international regime established by the Treaty. The Ukrainian side called for the elaboration of an international legally binding document on negative security assurances by the nuclear powers, which would provide up to military support in case of a threat to territorial integrity of a non-nuclear state. The participants of the session were urged to immediately commence negotiations on the Treaty on the Prohibition of the Production of Fissile Material for Nuclear Weapons or Other Nuclear Explosive Devices within the framework of the Conference on Disarmament; the need to universalize the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was emphasized. Participants were also informed about the efforts of our country aimed at providing and strengthening physical security at the Ukrainian nuclear infrastructure sites.

Second session of the Preparatory Committee for the Review Conference of the NPT will continue until May 4, 2018.