Ukraine will join an international uranium enrichment project being set up in Russia, the Russian atomic energy agency (Rosatom) said in a statement on Tuesday.

Ukraine will participate in a project to build an enrichment center at a nuclear research plant in Angarsk, a city 5,100 km from Moscow.

The agreement was reached on June 4 during a visit to Ukraine by Russian nuclear chief Sergei Kiriyenko.

A Ukrainian delegation paid a visit to the plant on Tuesday and both sides agreed to solve any problems that could stop Ukraine joining Kazakhstan as partners in the project in the next few months.

"During the consultations with the Ukrainian side they confirmed their interest in participating in the project to create an international uranium enrichment centre," the statement said.

On May 10, Russia and Kazakhstan agreed to establish the world's first international uranium enrichment project to allow countries to develop civilian nuclear power without setting up their own enrichment cycles.

Armenia has also expressed interest in joining the project and has held discussions with Russia on the issue.

(Xinhua News Agency June 20, 2007)