Ukraine Sends 2nd Load of Warheads; U.S. Vows More Aid

A second trainload of nuclear warheads has been sent from Ukraine to Russia for dismantling, officials said Monday, as U.S. Defense Secretary William J. Perry arrived for a visit to a missile base and to deliver a pledge of $100 million more in U.S. aid.

After a day of closed-door meetings with Perry, government officials said a train carrying 60 warheads removed from missiles in Ukraine left for Russia under heavy security on March 14. The news came on the eve of a visit by Perry to one of the missile bases from which warheads are being removed.

Perry came to Kiev for two days of talks, concerned that an agreement by Ukraine to eliminate its nuclear weapons was stalled. The agreement was reached in January by the presidents of Russia, Ukraine and the United States. The announcement by Ukraine indicates that “progress on the nuclear disarmament phase of that agreement is going very well,” Perry said.