Biden reassures support for Ukraine

US Vice President Joe Biden has once again assured Ukraine of Washington’s support amid escalating tensions with Russia over the ongoing crisis in the country.

According to Press TV, Biden told Ukrainian lawmakers on Tuesday the United States is standing by Ukraine in the face of “humiliating threats” in the run up to the presidential election next month.

He also said, “You face very daunting problems, and some might say, humiliating threats,” adding that the upcoming election on May 25 could be “the most important election in Ukrainian history.”

Biden went on to say that the US is ready to help the interim leaders in Kiev to create national unity.

Biden, who is on a visit to Ukraine, pledged that his country would help Ukraine become independent of Russian energy supplies.

Russian gas supplier Gazprom has recently said it is increasing prices of gas exports to Ukraine by more than a third. The decision was made after tensions between Kiev and Moscow escalated over Ukraine’s Crimea’s reintegration into Russia following a referendum on March 16.