Vice President Joe Biden has told Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych that he’s disappointed over Ukraine’s decision to pull out of a landmark agreement with the European Union.
The White House says Biden called Yanukovych on Friday and said the U.S. strongly believes that integrating with Europe will help Ukraine strengthen its democracy and restore economic prosperity.
The call comes a day after Ukraine’s leaders stunned the nation by saying they were pulling out of the free trade and political cooperation deal, prompting mass protests. The move to suspend preparations for the agreement was a big victory for Russia, which has worked aggressively to derail the deal and keep Ukraine in its orbit.
The White House says Biden told Yanukovych the U.S. supports Ukrainians’ aspirations for more integration with Europe, AP informs.
