国际英语新闻：U.S. vice president voices support for Ukraine's NATO bid, will to choose allies

KIEV, July 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday voiced support for Ukraine's NATO bid and its own will to choose allies.

    "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.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko (R) welcomes visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, prior to their meeting in Kiev, Ukraine, July 21, 2009

 "If you choose to be part of the Euro-Atlantic integration, which I believe you have, then we strongly support that," Biden said.

    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.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko (R Front) meets with visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, in Kiev, Ukraine, July 21, 2009.

Biden pointed out that resetting relations with Russia will not come at Ukraine's expense. "To the contrary, I believe it can actually benefit Ukraine," he said.

    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