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Cooperation between Kyiv and Washington in the field of biosafety was focused exclusively on public health protection, epidemiological monitoring, and laboratory diagnostics. Ukraine has never carried out activities related to the development, production, or stockpiling of biological weapons.
This was stated on June 13 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine in response to another wave of claims regarding biological security cooperation programs, UATV English reports.
“Once again, we reject these groundless accusations and emphasize that Ukraine consistently fulfills its international obligations under the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). The Ukrainian side has never engaged in activities related to the development, production, or accumulation of biological weapons,” the ministry said.
The MFA stressed that long-term cooperation between Ukraine and the United States in the field of biological security was aimed solely at strengthening public health systems, epidemiological surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, biosafety, and biosecurity.
“This concerns ordinary civilian activities that comply with international health standards and practices and are not connected with any military objectives,” the statement said.
The ministry noted that allegations about alleged “biological weapons laboratories” in Ukraine are not new and have been promoted by Russian propaganda for years. It added that these accusations have repeatedly been reviewed and rejected internationally:
- In 2022, at Russia’s request, a formal consultative process was conducted among states parties to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. The process found no evidence supporting claims that Ukraine was developing biological weapons or operating military biological programs.
- The issue was also examined by the United Nations Security Council, where no evidence was presented to substantiate Russia’s allegations.
- In December 2023, Ukraine reaffirmed its position at a meeting of BTWC member states, stating that the 2022 consultative process had comprehensively addressed the accusations and that Ukraine’s cooperation with international partners in public health fully complies with the Convention.
“Ukraine remains committed to the principles of transparency, international cooperation, and strengthening the global biological security system. We urge everyone to rely on the results of international consultations and verified facts, rather than distorted interpretations or Russian propaganda,” the ministry concluded.
The statement came after Tulsi Gabbard released declassified documents concerning U.S.-funded biological programs in Ukraine and other countries and claimed that U.S. authorities had concealed the scope of those activities. Gabbard has previously been criticized for repeating narratives promoted by Russian state media regarding Ukraine.
