Kiev  - US Vice-president Joe Biden arrived in Kiev Monday to begin talks with Ukrainian and Georgian leaders on what are expected to be further moves towards their integration with the West.

He was due to meet Tuesday with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who have expressed concern over a perceived warming of relations between the US and Russia following US President Barack Obama's recent Moscow visit.

Informed sources said US government officials had assured Ukrainian and Georgian counterparts that improved US-Russian relations would not be at the expense of third parties.

NATO remained open to Ukrainian and Georgian membership, they said. Biden was also eager to discuss energy sector reforms with Ukraine in the light of Kiev's continuing gas dispute with Moscow.(dpa)