VP: US supports Ukraine's bid to join NATO

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Visiting US Vice President, Joe Biden, has met Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko in Kiev. Biden said that Washington supports Ukraine's bid to join NATO and he also said Kiev is free to choose its allies.

Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko (R) and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden meet before breakfast talks in Kiev, July 22, 2009. The United States strongly supports Ukraine's right to choose what alliances it wants to join, Biden said in comments likely to irk Russia.  REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

Biden's visit is seen as a move to balance US President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow earlier this month. Biden promises better ties with Moscow will not come at Ukraine's expense.

Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko reiterated his aspirations to move Ukraine closer to NATO. But polls have shown a majority of Ukrainians are against NATO membership.

Biden and Yushchenko laid flowers at the Holodomor Memorial which commemorates victims of a famine in the 1930's. And he also met Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, as well as key opposition leaders who are likely to challenge Yushchenko in January's presidential election.