Cheney: Ukraine Must Live Without Fear

James Joyner | September 05, 2008

Dick Cheney visited Ukraine's president and prime minister in Kiev and reaffirmed U.S. commitment to its bid for NATO membership, BBC reports.

He stated that the U.S. has "a deep and abiding interest" in Ukraine's security and asserted that, "We believe in the right of men and women to live without the threat of tyranny, economic blackmail or military invasion or intimidation." Therefore, "Ukrainians have a right to choose whether they wish to join NATO, and NATO has a right to invite Ukraine to join the alliance when we believe they are ready and that the time is right."

CNN adds that, "The meeting came on the same day as the United States' top warship arrived in the Georgian port of Poti to deliver humanitarian supplies, fueling Russia's fears that its superpower rival is making its presence felt in the Baltic region."

FT notes, too, that "Cheney’s visit was clouded by the latest moves in the escalating power struggle between the country’s pro-western president and prime minister."