国际英语新闻：Obama to meet Yanukovych next week

WASHINGTON, April 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama and his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych will meet on April 12 in Washington, the first meeting since Yanukovych was elected as the president in February, said the White House on Saturday.

According to the White House, Obama and Yanukovych are expected to discuss "a broad range of issues of mutual concern," including nuclear non-proliferation, addressing the impacts of the global economic crisis, energy security and defense cooperation.

The two countries "enjoy strong bilateral relations and are working together through the Strategic partnership Commission to advance our common agenda," said the White House.

The United States officially recognized the independence of Ukraine in December 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The Orange Revolution in Ukraine has led to closer relations between Kiev and Washington.

By signing the Charter on Strategic Partnership with Ukraine in December 2008, the United States vows to support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as its "Euro- Atlantic aspirations and integration into the institutions of the Euro-Atlantic."

Russia has expressed strong objections to the U.S.-backed efforts to letting Ukraine join the NATO military alliance. Early in March, Yanukovych made his first visit as the president to Moscow and promised a "sharp turn" in the Ukraine-Russia relations.