Statement of President Obama on Russia Shutting Down Final Plutonium Reactor

“I welcome this significant announcement from President Medvedev. This important step forward continues to demonstrate Russia’s leadership on nuclear security issues, and will add momentum to our shared global effort.”

BACKGROUND: The ADE-2 reactor has been producing weapons-grade plutonium for nearly 52 years in the formerly secret Siberian city of Zheleznogorsk. Russian President Medvedev announced the imminent shutdown at President Obama’s Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.