On September 26, 2011 in New York Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Kostyantyn Gryshchenko and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding cooperation on nuclear safety.
Recall that during the Summit on Nuclear Safety, held in April 2010 in Washington, President Viktor Yanukovych was declared the initiative of Ukraine to get rid of all stocks of highly enriched uranium in the framework of international measures to strengthen nuclear safety.
This decision corresponds to the traditional policy of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons of the Ukrainian state, which in the mid 90s voluntarily gave up the third largest nuclear arsenal in the world. But more importantly, that this decision was adopted with the understanding that highly enriched uranium can not be used in advanced research in the peaceful atom. Instead, during the implementation of the Memorandum, U.S. partners will provide Ukrainian nuclear scientists needed assistance in creating a new technological platform for breakthrough discoveries that will help Ukraine to remain one of the three world leaders in creating new nuclear technologies.
The signature of the intergovernmental Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in nuclear safety lays tied to specific time parameters and practical action plan for fulfillment of all obligations of Kyiv and Washington. The American side has proposed granting Ukraine material and financial assistance for the establishment in Kharkov Physico-Technical Institute-modern equipment - a source of neutrons using low-enriched uranium. This equipment will allow scientific research in nuclear physics, nuclear medicine and other innovative industries. Instead of useless and dangerous "Cold War" heritage Ukrainian nuclear industry gets a unique material base that will strengthen its competitive advantage in the global market for nuclear power development. The total investment amount of U.S. government for this project would exceed $ 60 million.
Signature demonstrated intensification of Ukrainian-American strategic dialogue on global nuclear security.