I recently returned to Kyiv from Washington, DC, where I had the privilege of joining presidents Yanukovych and Obama in their first ever historic meeting at the Nuclear Security Summit. Much has been written in recent days about President Yanukovych’s courageous decision to relinquish Ukraine’s stocks of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU). I would like to explain why the decision was so important and why the strategic partnership with the United States continues on a strong, upward path.
Presidents Yanukovych and Obama used their meeting to set a broad, ambitious agenda building on the Strategic Partnership Charter agreed to by their predecessors. This re-energized partnership will provide the basis for the two countries to fulfill the discussion between the two leaders on such pressing topics as regional security, economic reform, and bilateral trade and investment. The two presidents issued a joint statement which described in greater detail this close partnership.
As President Obama has said, the decision on HEU was an outstanding example of statesmanship on the part of President Yanukovych. Ukraine once again showed its continuing role as a leader on the world stage on disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation. The announcement was well timed to showcase Ukraine in the presence of 47 world leaders. The Washington Post the next day called Ukraine the “star” of the Summit.
The decision was part of a long-term, non-partisan effort of which all Ukrainians should be proud. Ukraine’s impressive record of contributions to global non-proliferation and nuclear security began with the Kravchuk Administration and its decision to get rid of nuclear weapons and join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Similarly, the Yushchenko Administration made significant contributions when Ukraine became one of the first nations to join the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.
Some have criticized the decision to give up HEU because of its strategic importance. This is not true. The future lies in ending the use of HEU in civilian nuclear applications and converting to Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) fuel.
HEU was used in early reactor technology, but modern reactor designs can use newer high-density LEU fuels for civilian purposes.
LEU is also safer, more efficient, and cheaper. LEU has no nuclear weapons application and is of no interest to terrorists and criminals. It provides the same reactor performance, and its use saves money that would have to be spent to provide fortress-like security for each facility using HEU. Use of LEU in civilian nuclear applications is the cutting-edge approach worldwide to scientific research, medical isotope production, and power production.
Ukraine is joining a global effort to end the use of HEU in civil nuclear applications and convert to LEU. The US has completed conversion of 20 of its own HEU-fueled reactors to use LEU. Other countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, South Korea, Spain and others have committed to eliminate their stocks of HEU. Other countries chose the Summit as the venue to make announcements regarding HEU as well. Canada committed to get rid of a large amount of HEU spent fuel. Mexico announced the decision to remove its HEU and convert its research reactor to LEU.
Ukraine’s stewardship of its highly enriched uranium is not in question. Its safeguards of the HEU stockpile meet international standards. The broader goal is to reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism by eliminating excess HEU worldwide.
Most important, Ukraine will gain real benefits from its decision. The United States will provide the necessary financial and technical assistance to support Ukraine’s decision. Details of that assistance will be finalized as Ukraine develops its plan to rid itself of its HEU and convert its research reactors to LEU fuel. The conversion of research reactors to LEU will position Ukraine’s strong scientific establishment to take advantage of new technologies that are becoming the 21st century standard for medical and scientific research.
The US is committed to help Ukraine diversify the fuel supply for its nuclear power industry. The two leaders also agreed to continue working together on nuclear safety, including efforts to safeguard the Chornobyl nuclear reactor site, to which the US has contributed almost $250 million in past years.
From their very first conversation during President Obama’s congratulatory call in February, I have personally witnessed the two world leaders forge a warm personal relationship. President Obama and President Yanukovych continued to find common ground in their meeting because our two countries share values and interests such as commitment to democracy, economic freedom and prosperity, security and territorial integrity, energy security, defense cooperation, and the rule of law. Their talks represented a significant step forward for our two countries as we work together to realize the full potential of our strategic partnership.
TO THE POINT
As US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said earlier this month during her visit to Estonia, “With respect to the Ukrainian decision... Ukraine is trying to have a balanced approach to its foreign policy… The new president’s first visit was to Brussels, evidencing a real interest in moving toward Europe and even EU membership eventually. The president has told President Obama that he very much wants to improve and deepen relations with the United States. But at the same time, he has made it clear that he’s going to continue to work with Russia. I think, given Ukraine’s history and Ukraine’s geographic position, that balancing act is a hard one but it makes sense to us that’s what he’s trying to do and to keep a foot, if you wish, in both sides of his country…And we’ve been very clear that we believe that there is no sphere of influence, that there is no veto power that Russia or any country has over any country in Europe or in this region concerning membership in organizations like NATO or the EU. …We recognize the need to build up our relationships and support actions of independence such as moving toward energy security as a way of sending a very clear message that we want to live in a peaceful, stable world with our Russian friends but we’re going to be committed to the defense of our NATO allies.”
