[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.