Cheney visits Ukraine

LankaTruth 05th Sep: 2008. 01.56 PM

Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, has arrived in Kiev, as a row between pro-Western political forces in Ukraine threatened to bring down the the ex-Soviet republic's government.

Cheney has said his visit on Thursday is intended to bolster US allies in the former Soviet region. The vice-president is expected to meet Viktor Yushchenko, the Ukrainian president, and Yulia Tymoshenko, the prime minister, on Friday.

Political feuding between the two Ukrainian leaders has intensified in recent days following the confrontation between Russia and Georgia last month.Ukraine, like Georgia, has applied to join Nato, angering Moscow which sees the country as part of its sphere of influence. Ukraine also hopes to join the European Union.

In Kiev, the US vice-president is expected to hold talks with President and Prime Minister on Nato, energy pipelines and support for Georgia.

The Ukraine president has warned that his country is a hostage in a war waged by Russia against countries in the old Soviet bloc.

On his trip to Georgia, Mr Cheney said alongside President Saakashvili: "After your nation won its freedom in the Rose Revolution, America came to the aid of this courageous young democracy."