AKIPRESS.COM - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Ukraine's elections next month may be the most important in the country's history, as he urged government officials to eradicate corruption and adopt a series of critical constitutional reforms, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Biden in particular stressed the need for Kiev to create a trustworthy judicial system and move toward diversifying its energy supplies.

He told the lawmakers that Ukraine would be in a much stronger position today if it could “tell Russia to keep its gas” and said they face some difficult personal decisions amid the current unrest and uncertainty.

“You face very daunting problems,” he added. “But the opportunity to generate a united Ukraine and getting it right is in your grasp. And we want to be your partner and your friend in the project.”

Joe Biden arrived in Kiev Monday for discussions with Ukrainian officials. His first meetings were with acting President Oleksandr Turchynov, as well as a group of Ukrainian legislators.

His visit to Kiev is largely intended to send a signal to Russia of U.S. support for Ukraine ahead of its May 25 elections.