Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio: Dan Rather) Russian republic reported recognizing Ukraine's independence today; map shown. Report introduced.

(Moscow: Anthony Mason) Results of Sunday's independence referendum in the Ukraine featured; impact on Gorbachev's power noted. [Ukrainian WOMAN - (thru translator) expresses happiness.] [White House spokesman Marlin FITZWATER - expresses support for the Ukraine.] Ukraine's role as a key producer of Soviet nuclear weapons noted; defense minister reported reassuring the West that Ukraine's armed forces will not possess nuclear weapons.

(Pentagon: David Martin) Impact of the Ukraine's independence on the balance of nuclear power featured; scenes shown of nuclear weapons. [FITZWATER - comments on helping Ukraine eliminate nuclear weapons.] [Harvard University Ashton CARTER, Defense Department I. Lewis LIBBY - comment on nuclear weapons spread throughout the republics.] United States concern that Soviet weapons experts will sell their services to other countries noted; scientist Andrei Sakharov mentioned; excerpt shown of underground nuclear blast from Soviet TV. Congress' authorization of Pentagon spending on dismantling of the Soviet republics' nuclear weapons noted.