Status of highly enriched uranium (HEU) purchase agreements and HEU transparency implementation

In August 1992, the United States and Russia tentatively agreed that the United States would purchase 500 metric tons of highly enriched uranium (HEU), which Russia was withdrawing from its nuclear weapons program. This paper lists the many details that have been agreed upon by the two parties regarding the price, where the HEU is to be blended down to reactor enrichment (Russia) and on transparency agreements so that the United States may be assured that the HEU comes from the weapons program and Russia may be assured that disposition of the low enriched uranium is consistent with the United States' commitments. The four most significant documents are summarized: the Umbrella Agreement, signed in February 1993; the Memorandum of Understanding, signed in September 1993; the Implementing Contract, signed in January 1994; and the further Arrangements Protocol, signed in March 1994.