8t the 2002 G8 summit at Kananaskis in Canada, leaders pledged to provide up to $20 billion over ten years for a new Global Partnership Programme aimed at the non-proliferation of materials of mass destruction. The Prime Minister announced that the UK would make available up to $750 million to fund projects in pursuit of the Partnership’s aims. This funding will allow the UK to significantly expand its work to address the nuclear, chemical and biological legacies of the Former Soviet Union (FSU).

The signing of bilateral agreements with the Russian Federation during President Putin’s State Visit to the UK in June 2003 was the final stage in building a firm foundation for the Global Partnership programme's continuing contribution to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. However, nuclear legacy and non-proliferation issues are not confined to the Russian Federation, and the UK is entering into negotiations with other FSU/CEE countries including the Ukraine and Kazakhstan.

The Ministry of Defence is responsible for a similar non-proliferation programme of UK Assistance to Russia, to help manage the destruction of chemical weapons stocks. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have a particular interest in two specific non-proliferation Nuclear Legacy in the FSU programmes – Disposition of Surplus Plutonium and Closed Nuclear Cities.

The DTI Published its Forth Annual Global Partnership Programme Progress Report on January 15th 2007 reporting on the UK’s programme to address the nuclear, chemical and biological legacies in the FSU.