In 1994, the US–Russia relations were at their zenith, Aleksashenko believes. In January, under pressure from both sides, Ukraine agreed to dispose of its nuclear weapons. Communication between the two presidents became routine, though the Russian economy didn’t benefit from that. In July, when the G7 met in Naples, Yeltsin was invited as the eighth, full-fledged participant in the political discussion; it was declared that ‘members of the club do not beg for money.’ Meanwhile, the economic reforms in Russia were undermined by irresponsible monetary policy, which resulted in a financial crisis in October. Yet, being painful, this crisis opened a path toward macroeconomic stabilization, which Russia implemented starting next January.