United Press International: Freeing Tymoshenko would help US-Ukraine ties
WASHINGTON, March 26 (UPI) -- Second only to Russia itself, Ukraine is the most important country of the former Soviet Union for U.S. policy in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
Despite Kiev's decision not to join NATO following President Viktor Yanukovych's election in 2010, Ukraine remains a key U.S. partner. For example, one of Yanukovych's first acts after taking office was to transfer to the United States Ukraine's stock of highly enriched uranium, something Washington had unsuccessfully pursued since the collapse of the U.S.S.R.