The damaged Chernobyl nuclear power station is to close permanently in December. The news was announced in a joint statement issued by US President Bill Clinton and the Ukrainian leader, Leonid Kuchma, during Mr Clinton's brief visit to Kiev on Monday. The blast killed 31 people outright and has been held responsible for thousands of deaths since then.
Extra work is required on the concrete casing surrounding it.
Western countries have long demanded the closure of the plant. But as power sources in Ukraine are scarce, one of the plant's four original reactors has continued to be used to produce electricity. The reactor underwent lengthy repairs last year, but has malfunctioned several times. Ukraine has been seeking money to decommission the reactor and bring two new generating plants on stream. In March, the Ukrainian Government reiterated its pledge to shut the power station, but stressed that the closure depended on the country getting international aid.