Ukraine isn't some obscure shoebox of a country that matters only if you're competing in a geography bee. As Ukrainians go to the polls today to elect a new president, the Obama administration is showing signs it is waking up to the importance of Central and Eastern Europe.

It's about time.

On a recent trip to Paris, Hillary Clinton spoke in favor of EU and NATO enlargement and said today's elections were "an important step in Ukraine's journey toward democracy, stability and integration into Europe."

Those are welcome words in a country that has felt forgotten by Washington. While President George W. Bush was a vocal supporter of Ukraine and Central Europe, the region has felt neglected by President Barack Obama, said Roman Kalytchak, a political science professor at Lviv National University.

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