Ukraine has reaffirmed its commitment to close the Chernobyl power plant, after receiving assurances the international community would help fund alternative power sources.

European Commission President Romano Prodi said in Kiev Thursday that the European Union would give Ukraine $21 million in compensation. He also said other international donors would keep their pledges to help Ukraine close down Chernobyl.

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma then repeated that the power plant would be shut down December 15th, as called for in a 1995 accord.

President Kuchma has long suggested the deadline might not be met. This, he said was because Kiev was not getting the money it needed to create new power sources and do away with waste from Chernobyl, scene of the world's worst civilian nuclear accident.