KIEV, July 20 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived here on Monday afternoon, kicking off his visit to Ukraine, which is aimed to show Washington's continued support for the country's westward drive.
During the three-day visit, Biden is scheduled to meet with President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, as well as the country's main opposition leaders.
Tony Blinken, national security adviser to the vice president, told reporters ahead of Biden's visit: "Our efforts to re-set relations with Russia will not come at the expense of any other country."
"We will continue to reject the notion of spheres of influence, and we will continue to stand by the principle that sovereign democracies have the right to make their own decisions and choose their own partnerships and alliances," said Blinken.
Blinken added that despite the opposition from Moscow, the door to NATO remains open for Ukraine.
According to a source close to the Ukrainian presidency, Kiev is hoping to secure a bilateral deal with the United States containing national security guarantees.
Energy concerns will also be a topic of discussion, as Ukraine's continuing conflicts with Russia over the price of gas have interrupted Europe's gas supply.
Furthermore, Ukrainian officials were looking to Biden for help in getting more economic assistance from international financial institutions and the EU, as the former Soviet republic battles a severe economic crisis.
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