Ukraine Pledges To Give Up Highly Enriched Uranium

Ukraine will eliminate their entire stockpile of highly enriched uranium, a material used for the creation of nuclear arms, by 2012, the White House announced Monday.

“It’s enough for the construction of several nuclear weapons,” Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters.

Ukraine has become one of several nations to willfully restrict their nuclear capabilities. Others include South Africa and Kazakhstan, who both ended their nuclear weapons programs. Chile has given up all highly enriched uranium as well.

Gibbs could not answer where the uranium will be ultimately be stored, but noted the U.S. will be involved in its removal.

“The final disposition location has yet to be determined,” Gibbs said. “That’s a process that we’ll be working on.”

The press secretary added that the U.S. will provide technical and financial assistance in the elimination process, but could not provide the projected costs for the U.S.

The decision from the former Soviet state comes during a Nuclear Security Summit being held in Washington, D.C. this week.

Ukrainian President Yushchenko declares democratic sovereignty

Amid domestic political turmoil and neighboring geopolitical conflict, speaking through a translator, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko addressed the country's future plans for an independent and democratic Ukraine. Nearly two weeks ago, Ukraine's ruling coalition collapsed, and last year at this time the parliamentary elections put in place an 'orange' coalition featuring an alliance between the Yushchenko's party and the party of Prime Minister Julia Temeshinko. The recent Russian-Georgian conflict has caused international tension between Ukraine and Russia over the fact that Ukraine hosts Russia's Black Sea fleet and the transportation of energy supplies between Russia and Europe.

In the context of the Russian-Georgian conflict and pro-Russian forces active in the Krimean area, Yushchenko said that he is ready to fight and protect his sovereign nation and determine it's own defense and security policy. He strongly confirmed that his territory would never be used for any country to deploy nuclear weapons. Addressing the fears of communist presence in the government, Yushchenko did not understand how Prime Minister Temeshinko made their top partnership with communists because, he said, "there are no Ukrainian communists. These communists always represented interests of a different country."

Yushchenko confirmed his support of NATO, saying it is "the best model to guarantee security in the (Ukraine's) international coordinates". The President continued to declare his plan for a democratic Ukraine and integration into the European Union under the Association Agreement. The Association Agreements would include a free trade area and a start to negotiations of visa free access between the EU and Ukraine.

Today at Talk Radio News

Pentagon Correspondent Dawn Casey will cover Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' honor cordon for Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus. The Washington Bureau will also cover a book discussion on "Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution-And How it Can Renew America," with author Thomas Friedman, an Address on "New Security Challenges for Europe and the Ukraine-U.S. Strategic Partnership," by Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko, and a luncheon with the Women's Foreign Policy Group featuring United Nations World Food Programme Executive Director Josette Sheeran.

Only time will tell

At a meeting today sponsored by the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, Daniel Fried, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasia Affairs, spoke on the potential actions of the new Medvedev administration.

Dmitri Medvedev took office Wednesday as Russia’s third president. Medvedev officially elected Vladimir Putin as prime minister. Fried discussed the future actions of the United States in reference to the new administration and discussed what changes could occur.

Fried stressed that the United States actions towards the new Administration would remain the same as it has been in the past, and that the U.S. would negotiate with Russia when “interests and principles overlap.”

Concerns were raised about the abuses of the democratic system, the restrictions on the political debate during the campaign season, and the civil liberties and human rights issues that the Russian government has been dealing with, as well as the Russian government’s interactions with Georgia and Ukraine.

When asked whether or not he felt Medvedev will take the country in a new direction or work under the same constraints as Putin, Fried said, “only time will tell.” But he expressed hopes that the new administration would be more supportive of Ukraine and Georgia’s efforts to join NATO and let them determine their own future.

Forecasting the Future: What Will Take Place When Bush Attends NATO Summit?

The Center for Strategic International Studies (CSIS) held a press briefing discussing President Bush’s upcoming trip to the NATO summit. The panel leading the hearing investigated the effectiveness NATO, soon to celebrate its sixtieth anniversary, has had in policing the world, American involvement in Afghanistan, European involvement in Kosovo, missile defense, and the possible admittance of new nations into NATO.

Janusz Bugajski, director of the CSIS New European Democracies Project, emphasized how Membership Action Plans (MAPS) are sometimes successful, but limited, guidelines for the three nations trying to become allied with NATO to follow. As Bugajski cautioned, MAPS is not always effective for hopeful nations trying to gain admittance into the alliance.

Bugajski noted that US and Russian tension might “reach a head” over Ukraine’s possible admission into NATO. While President Bush is seen as a strong supporter of NATO enlargement, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, Bugajski explained, sees Ukraine’s entrance as an undercut in their strategy to influence Ukrainians.