Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovich, who is in Tokyo on his first visit as the head of state, has asked Japan to help his country in the construction of a new sarcophagus over the fourth reactor unit of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. He voiced this request during an audience with Japanese Emperor Akihito.
"We are asking the international community, including Japan,” the Imperial Court’s office quotes the Ukrainian president as saying, “to assist us in building a new sarcophagus over the fourth reactor unit to prevent the possible spread of radiation."
Yanukovich said this when answering the question from the Emperor: "What is the situation in the area of nuclear power now?"
"I've always felt deep sympathy for the victims of the tragedy," Akihito said.
The Ukrainian president thanked Japan for the fact that it remained one of the largest donors to the rehabilitation of the zone of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. He also invited Japan’s representatives to take part in a meeting on nuclear safety, which will be held in Ukraine under the auspices of the government in April and will be timed for the 25th anniversary of the disaster.