Biden: U.S. supports Ukraine's NATO bid

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US Vice President Joseph Biden says Washington is backing Ukraine's bid to join NATO adding that Ukraine should be free to choose its own foreign policy alliances.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, left, and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden speak in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, July 21, 2009. Biden arrived in Ukraine for a three-day working visit.(AP Photo/Mykhailo Markiv)

Joe Biden make the remarks after meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko in Kiev on Tuesday. Ukrainian officials are looking for signals that Washington's effort to improve ties with Moscow will not hurt its own plans to join the Western military alliance and integrate further with the West.

While Moscow has strongly opposed the Ukrainian bid for NATO membership. But Joe Biden has stressed that attempts to improve US-Russia relations will not come at the expense of Ukraine.