Closing Chornobyl created the circumstances for a safer and more prosperous Ukraine for future generations. We are reminded of this today on the 15th anniversary of the terrible accident at Chornobyl and are again grateful that an environmental threat has been removed from the Central European landscape. I am proud of our continued efforts to work with Ukraine to improve nuclear safety and mitigate the harsh social impact of Chornobyl's closure on the local population.
Much work remains to be done in Ukraine's transition to a modern European state.
This work will require strong and courageous leadership over the coming months and years. It will require real support for democracy and difficult, but necessary reforms. Last year strong Ukrainian leadership and committed international assistance achieved great results in Chornobyl. I urge Ukraine to stay on the path of reform it set out upon last year. I firmly believe that Ukraine's national greatness rests in Europe, and in its transatlantic and global ties.