In early July, the Russian and U.S. presidents said they were ready to start bilateral and multilateral talks on access to civilian nuclear energy for countries complying with their non-proliferation obligations.
"By the year 2030 we plan to double the production of electricity at [Ukrainian] nuclear power plants," said Bohdan Sokolovskiy, a presidential advisor, citing President Yushchenko. "The implementation of such an ambitious national strategy requires the participation of our country in international programs."
He also said that President Yushchenko believes that the Russian and American initiative to enhance cooperation in the sphere of nuclear energy and non-proliferation is an "up-to-date and very relevant" initiative.
In a joint statement adopted following informal talks at the American president's summer residence at Kennebunkport July 1-2, Vladimir Putin and George W. Bush reiterated an approach they said would give access to the benefits of nuclear energy to a growing number of interested countries, while also preventing them from building nuclear weapons.
Their initiatives also envision financial aid for building nuclear power plants, advice on spent fuel storage, and contain obligations to ensure uninterrupted fuel supplies and other commitments.
