Biden criticises Russia over lack of ceasefire in Ukraine
Touring the Ukrainian capital, Mr Biden said Western sanctions against Russia would not be lifted until Moscow does more to enforce the ceasefire.
More than 900 people have been killed and fighting has continued in eastern Ukraine since a truce began in September.
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“If Russia were to fulfil these commitments and respect Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity, we could begin a rational discussion about sanctions,” Mr Biden said.
The protests that began a year ago in Kyiv led to the ousting of Ukraine’s former pro-Russian president in February.
Russia then annexed the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea in March and began backing a pro-Russian insurgency in eastern Ukraine.
The US vice president praised the sacrifices of “brave Ukrainians who are even now defending against Russian aggression in the east”.
Some Ukrainians have been more critical of the new Kyiv government. Earlier yesterday, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk were shouted down when they visited the central Kyiv square where more than a hundred protesters were killed by sniper fire in February.