Biden: US Committed to 'Strong and Prosperous' Ukraine
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden says the United States is committed to a strong and prosperous Ukraine, and he says U.S. moves to reset relations with Russia will not come at Ukraine's expense.
Biden spoke Tuesday in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, at the start of a three-day mission to that country and a second former Soviet republic, Georgia.
Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, Biden said the United States strongly supports Ukraine's right to choose its alliances. He also welcomed its decision to move toward alignment with the Euro-Atlantic community.
Russia has voiced strong opposition to Ukrainian efforts to join NATO. It says the potential presence of the Western military alliance on its borders would be an intrusion into its traditional sphere of influence.
The U.S. vice president also meets Tuesday with Mr. Yushchenko's political rival, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, to discuss ways to deepen bilateral ties.
He was expected to encourage both the prime minister and the president to end months of political feuding that has brought governance in the country to a virtual standstill.
The vice president visits Georgia Wednesday and Thursday for talks with President Mikheil Saakashvili. He also will meet with opposition leaders who have been holding non-stop, but dwindling, protests in downtown Tbilisi trying to force him to resign.
On Monday, Mr. Saakashvili announced a series of election reforms, including the direct election of mayors and more opposition access to public television. He has refused to heed the opposition's demand that he step down before his term ends in 2013.
VOA News
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