Ukraine refuted fakes about biological weapons development and confirmed adherence to international norms. Cooperation with the USA pertains solely to public health.
Ukraine has once again denied allegations of purported biological weapons development programs and stressed full compliance with international biosafety obligations. This was stated in a declaration by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, as reported by UNN.
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The ministry noted that Ukraine’s collaboration with the United States in the field of biosafety has for many years exclusively concerned the enhancement of the public health system, epidemiological surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, biodefence, and biosecurity.
The Ukrainian side has never engaged in activities related to the development, production, or stockpiling of biological weapons.
– emphasized the MFA.
The ministry underscored that laboratories involved in international technical assistance programs functioned as diagnostic, scientific, or reference laboratories within the healthcare and veterinary medicine sectors, having no connection to military initiatives.
Furthermore, the MFA recalled that Russia has for years propagated claims about so-called “biolabs” in Ukraine. In 2022, at Russia’s request, States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons convened official consultations, during which all necessary information regarding relevant cooperation programs was provided.
Following the review, no evidence of biological weapons creation programs in Ukraine was found. This matter was also addressed in sessions of the UN Security Council, where the Russian side failed to present substantiation for its accusations.
In December 2023, Ukraine reiterated its stance during a meeting of States Parties to the Convention, emphasizing that international cooperation in public health fully aligns with the principles of international law.
The MFA stated that Ukraine remains committed to transparency, international collaboration, and the strengthening of the global biosafety framework, urging reliance on verified facts rather than Russian propaganda.