Thursday's agreement between the two state-owned nuclear power giants covers the study of EDF's gigawatt-scale EPR and Nuward small modular reactor technologies as well as "exchange of experience in the operation of nuclear power plants, maintenance of safety, reliability and efficiency of reactors".

The exchange of experience will also include the supply of nuclear fuel for VVER reactors for countries wanting to diversify their supply away from Russia.

Energoatom's Chairman Petro Kotin said: "Ukraine, like France, has unique experience in the nuclear industry. Therefore, our active cooperation and joint efforts in increasing the role of nuclear energy on the European continent will contribute to the achievement of climate goals and ensuring the stable production of clean and safe electricity."

On the same day, the governments of the two countries exchanged letters putting into place a 20-year renewal of their 1998 agreement on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The renewal, signed by Ukraine's Economy Minister Yulia Svyridenko and French Foreign Minister Stephane Séjournay, creates the legal framework for cooperation in the field of maintenance of nuclear facilities and renews the agreement which expired four years ago.

The ministers also signed agreements relating to French finance and support for Ukraine's critical infrastructure and wider backing for Ukrainian enterprises. The agreements came during a visit to France of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Ukraine has 15 nuclear units which could generate about half of its electricity, including the six at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant which has been under Russian military control since early March 2022. The country has plans for nine new Westinghouse AP1000 units in the future, as well as exploring potential deployment of small modular reactors. France also has plans for a new era of nuclear energy construction. It already derives about 70% of its electricity from nuclear energy and has plans for as many as 14 new reactors.