[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book I)]
[January 14, 1994]
[Pages 69-70]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement by the Presidents of the United States, Russia, and Ukraine 
January 14, 1994

    Presidents Clinton, Yeltsin and Kravchuk met in Moscow on January 
14. The three Presidents reiterated that they will deal with one another 
as full and equal partners and that relations among their countries must 
be conducted on the basis of respect for the independence, sovereignty 
and territorial integrity of each nation.
    The three Presidents agreed on the importance of developing mutually 
beneficial, comprehensive and cooperative economic relations. In this 
connection, they welcomed the intention of the United States to provide 
assistance to Ukraine and Russia to support the creation of effective 
market economies.
    The three Presidents reviewed the progress that has been made in 
reducing nuclear forces. Deactivation of strategic forces is already 
well underway in the United States, Russia and Ukraine. The Presidents 
welcomed the ongoing deactivation of RS-18s (SS-19s) and RS-22s (SS-24s) 
on Ukrainian territory by having their warheads removed.
    The Presidents look forward to the entry into force of the START I 
Treaty, including the Lisbon Protocol and associated documents, and 
President Kravchuk reiterated his commitment that Ukraine accede to the 
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a nonnuclear-weapon state in the 
shortest possible time. Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin noted that entry 
into force of START I will allow them to seek early ratification of 
START II. The Presidents discussed, in this regard, steps their 
countries would take to resolve certain nuclear weapons questions.
    The Presidents emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety and 
security of nuclear weapons pending their dismantlement.
    The Presidents recognize the importance of compensation to Ukraine, 
Kazakhstan and Belarus for the value of the highly-enriched ura-


[[Page 70]]

nium in nuclear warheads located on their territories. Arrangements have 
been worked out to provide fair and timely compensation to Ukraine, 
Kazakhstan and Belarus as the nuclear warheads on their territory are 
transferred to Russia for dismantling.
    Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin expressed satisfaction with the 
completion of the highly-enriched uranium contract, which was signed by 
appropriate authorities of the United States and Russia. By converting 
weapons-grade uranium into uranium which can only be used for peaceful 
purposes, the highly-enriched uranium agreement is a major step forward 
in fulfilling the countries' mutual non-proliferation objectives.
    The three Presidents decided on simultaneous actions on transfer of 
nuclear warheads from Ukraine and delivery of compensation to Ukraine in 
the form of fuel assemblies for nuclear power stations.
    Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin informed President Kravchuk that the 
United States and Russia are prepared to provide security assurances to 
Ukraine. In particular, once the START I Treaty enters into force and 
Ukraine becomes a non-nuclear-weapon state party to the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the United States and Russia will:
    --Reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine, in accordance with the 
        principles of the CSCE Final Act, to respect the independence 
        and sovereignty and the existing borders of the CSCE member 
        states and recognize that border changes can be made only by 
        peaceful and consensual means; and reaffirm their obligation to 
        refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial 
        integrity or political independence of any state, and that none 
        of their weapons will ever be used except in self-defense or 
        otherwise in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations;
    --Reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine, in accordance with the 
        principles of the CSCE Final Act, to refrain from economic 
        coercion designed to subordinate to their own interest the 
        exercise by another CSCE participating state of the rights 
        inherent in its sovereignty and thus to secure advantages of any 
        kind;
    --Reaffirm their commitment to seek immediate UN Security Council 
        action to provide assistance to Ukraine, as a non-nuclear-weapon 
        state party to the NPT, if Ukraine should become a victim of an 
        act of aggression or an object of a threat of aggression in 
        which nuclear weapons are used; and
    --Reaffirm, in the case of Ukraine, their commitment not to use 
        nuclear weapons against any non-nuclear-weapon state party to 
        the NPT, except in the case of an attack on themselves, their 
        territories or dependent territories, their armed forces, or 
        their allies, by such a state in association or alliance with a 
        nuclear weapon state.
    Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin informed President Kravchuk that 
consultations have been held with the United Kingdom, the third 
depositary state of the NPT, and the United Kingdom is prepared to offer 
the same security assurances to Ukraine once it becomes a non-nuclear-
weapon state party to the NPT.
    President Clinton reaffirmed the United States commitment to provide 
technical and financial assistance for the safe and secure dismantling 
of nuclear forces and storage of fissile materials. The United States 
has agreed under the Nunn-Lugar program to provide Russia, Ukraine, 
Kazakhstan and Belarus with nearly USD 800 million in such assistance, 
including a minimum of USD 175 million to Ukraine. The United States 
Congress has authorized additional Nunn-Lugar funds for this program, 
and the United States will work intensively with Russia, Ukraine, 
Kazakhstan and Belarus to expand assistance for this important purpose. 
The United States will also work to promote rapid implementation of the 
assistance agreements that are already in place.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this communique.