"I come here with one straight forward message: the U.S. is committed to a strong, democratic and prosperous Ukraine," Biden told a joint news conference after talks with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko.
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Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko (R) welcomes visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, prior to their meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, July 21, 2009 |
The vice president said the United States doesn't recognize "any spheres of influence."
"We do not recognize anyone else's right to dictate to any other country what alliance it should seek to belong to, or what relationships, bilateral relationships, you have," Biden said.
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Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko (R Front) meets with visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, in Kiev, Ukraine, July 21, 2009. |
Yushchenko reiterated his aspiration to move Ukraine closer to NATO.
"We believe that the best way to respond to the politics of security, as we have outlined in our law, is to develop European-Atlantic dialogue," Yushchenko said.
However, polls have shown a majority of Ukrainians to be against NATO membership