    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 3 (Monday, January 24, 1994)]
    [Pages 79-80]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    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 uranium 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

    [[Page 80]]

    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. This item was not received in time for publication in
    the appropriate issue.