Many Western countries have sanctioned Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine but have not sent in armed personnel. That is in part due to the Budapest Memorandum, political scientist Dr. Edward Koning told CTVNews.ca. 

Koning elaborated that although Russia has violated the Budapest Memorandum, under both it and NATO rules, Western countries have no “legal obligation” to send troops to Ukraine to fight Russia. That lack of obligation leaves their next steps unclear, since the memorandum is not legally binding, as compared to a defence alliance. Whether they have a “moral obligation” is a different question, he said. 

A professor in the Department of Political Science, Koning researches European and North American immigration politics. Recently, he discussed the European Union’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine beyond sanctions.