Fighting between Ukrainian forces and
Russia-backed separatists has significantly diminished since early September,
after killing some 8,000 people since April 2014, but tensions remain high
because of unresolved questions about the final political status of the rebel
regions in the east. Meanwhile, Western attention has turned largely toward the
fight against Islamic extremism in Syria and Iraq.
Since Russia began airstrikes in Syria on Sept.
30, Ukrainian officials have worried that their own country's troubles would
fade from view, especially if the West begins cooperating with Russia to fight
the Islamic State group.
Biden's meetings on Monday with President Petro
Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and a Tuesday speech at the
Ukrainian parliament are intended to counter that concern.
The trip "is a strong sign of our
support," a senior U.S. administration official said, asking that his name
not be used because he was speaking on background.
But the official said Biden also will emphasize
the need for Ukraine to implement anti-corruption measures. Widespread
corruption was one of the issues that galvanized the massive protests that
drove Russia-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych from office in February 2014,
but efforts since then to counter the problem have shown little result.
Biden's first event on Monday is to be a round
table with reform-minded Ukrainian figures.
The U.S. administration also says Biden will
reassure Ukraine that Washington's strategy is to keep sanctions against Russia
in place until full implementation of the Minsk Accords, the internationally
mediated agreements between Ukraine and Russia on ending the eastern conflict
and pulling back weapons.
The United States also imposed other sanctions
on Russia specific to its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Heintz reported from
Moscow.
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