Ukraine's Yushchenko due in Washington in April

KIEV, Ukraine -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is likely to visit Washington next month to hold talks with US President George W. Bush, the former Soviet republic's Deputy Prime Minister Oleh Rybachuk said.

Rybachuk said the talks would focus on conditions for the former Soviet republic's membership in the World Trade Organization, the Interfax news agency reported.


President Yushchenko with US Senator McCain
He also said that Yushchenko was expected to make a speech before the US Congress during his stay, whose dates were not specified.

The talks were expected to focus on revocation of the Jackson-Vanik amendment against Ukraine, a Cold War era provision which blocked the Soviet Union from getting most favored nation trading status for severely limiting Jewish emigration.

Yushchenko is due to travel to NATO headquarters in Brussels on February 22 for a meeting that will also include US President George W. Bush.