Restoring Ukraine's nuclear power status will cost $70 billion and full isolation in Europe, former president Leonid Kravchuk warns

Kravchuk believes the flare-up in S Ossetia cannot spur Ukraine into taking such a radical decision. The enlargment of the nuclear club may deteriorate the situation in the entire world, as the reaction of superpowers is unpredictable. It should be recalled how the United States reacted to the decision by North Korea to build its nuclear bomb. “If Ukraine announces plans to restore its former nuclear status, it will lead to the country's complete isolation in Europe, with

Ukraine's plans of integrating into NATO and Europe put on hold, Kravchuk claims. “Ukraine's course on joining the NATO alliance is productive, and the country should stay this course. Serious steps should be taken to receive MAP and then join NATO. Given this, Ukraine will have strong and durable guarantees of security,” Leonid Kravchuk stressed.

He believes Ukraine should preserve the guarantees of security it has, notably, the commitment of top nuclear states to guarantee Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity.

Comment by ZIK

According to the director of the Center for Global and Regional Studies, Yury Shcherbak, after Kosovo the world has witnessed the implementation of Putin's doctrine, allowing Russia to flout its international committments, REGNUM quotes Shcherbak as saying Aug 15.

Russia can give Ukraine the same handling, the expert says. “Ukraine should seriously weigh the possibility of creating its nuclear deterrent,” Shcherbak advices.