Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and leader of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, has released a statement on December 5, 2024. The statement marks thirty years since Ukraine voluntarily gave up its nuclear arsenal.

"Thirty years ago today, on December 5, 1994, in a truly prophetic gesture in favor of global peace, Ukraine voluntarily relinquished its nuclear arsenal, the third largest in the world at that time," said Broglio. He highlighted that this act was part of an agreement where "The Russian Federation, the United States, and the United Kingdom pledged to respect the 'independence, sovereignty, and the existing borders of Ukraine.'" France and China also supported these commitments to varying degrees.

Broglio noted that despite these promises, they were broken with Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and further invasion in 2022. Reflecting on current events, he stated: "As the bitter conflict rages with mounting civilian deaths and widespread displacement," it is important to remember when "the Ukrainian people opted for life, liberty, and peace," showing courage by envisioning a world without nuclear weapons.