January 12, 2017 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice
President Joe Biden will fly to Kiev on Sunday on a farewell visit by one of
Ukraine's strongest political supporters, as the country looks forward with
apprehension to the new administration of Donald Trump.
Biden, whose visit was announced
by the office of President Petro Poroshenko, has been the front man for U.S.
policy towards Ukraine since street protests in 2013-2014 forced a
Russian-backed leader to flee and the pro-Western opposition took over,
promising sweeping reforms whose delivery has been patchy.
The United States has invested
heavily in the reform process, providing over $3 billion in economic
assistance. It has imposed sanctions against Russia for annexing Ukraine's
Crimean peninsula and backing separatists in a conflict in the east of the
country.
Biden has been closely involved,
visiting Ukraine four times since the change in power and maintaining regular
telephone contact with Poroshenko and the prime minister.
Officials in Ukraine have
expressed concern that U.S. support could wane following the Jan. 20
inauguration of Trump, who has voiced admiration for Russian President Vladimir
Putin and a desire to improve ties with Moscow.
Biden, who last year promised the
"unwavering support" of the United States for Ukraine, has
nevertheless chastised officials for lacklustre reform efforts, warning that
endemic corruption risks undermining international will to maintain sanctions
on Russia.
During Biden's last visit to Kiev
in December 2015, he made an impassioned speech to the Ukrainian parliament,
saying lawmakers needed to do more in "a historic battle against
corruption."
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