US President Obama, Ukraine's Poroshenko Meet in Poland

Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko (L) and US President Barack Obama (R) attend a meeting in Warsaw, Poland, 04 June 2014. Photo by EPA/BGNES

US President Barack Obama told Ukrainian President-elect Petro Poroshenko that Washington was "committed to standing behind the Ukrainian people" in the years to come.

At a meeting in Poland's capital Warsaw on Wednesday Obama told Poroshenko he was impressed by his vision how to deal with the Ukraine crisis. He said this was partly "because of his experience as a businessman" (Poroshenko is known as "the chocolate king" in his country).

He was quoted by the BBC as calling the billionaire confectionary magnate who overwhelmingly won May 25's presidential vote a "wise selection" to lead Ukraine.

The US President believes Poroshenko represents the Ukrainians who "reject violence" and that he understands "the hopes and aspirations" of his country's people. 

Obama also promised support for Ukraine in its effort to ensure energy security, as Kiev is amid a gas pricing dispute with Russian concern Gazprom.

Ukraine's President-elect, for his part, reminded of his intentions to present and carry out a plan for winding down the conflict in the east of his country, where pro-Russian rebels have been holding public buildings for over two months.

Poroshenko is to be sworn in as President on Saturday.

Both leaders are in Warsaw on Wednesday to mark the 25th anniversary of Poland's first free elections.

In a speech dedicated to the 1989 events Obama later pointed Polish democracy as a "beacon" for Ukraine.

He once again condemned what he called "Russia's aggression in Ukraine" and urged a continued pursuit of of "a Europe that is whole and free and at peace".

Obama's visit is to continue with a G7 summit in Belgium and D-Day commemorations in France's Normandy.

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