Putin said Russia was ready to build an international centre “providing nuclear fuel cycle services, including enrichment, on a non-discriminatory basis and under the control of the IAEA”. He said technological innovations were needed to build new-generation reactors and fuel cycles, and this required broad international cooperation.

“This is the approach that we will present to the G8 countries during our presidency, and to all our partners in the peaceful use of nuclear energy,” Putin added. Russia is presiding over the club of the world’s eight most industrialized nations in 2006.