U.S. President George W. Bush and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko launched "a new era of strategic partnership" between their nations on Monday and Bush said he wanted Ukraine to join NATO and the World Trade Organization. Bush gave Yushchenko the red-carpet treatment, welcoming him to the White House for the first time since the former Soviet republic went through a convulsive election dispute late last year during which Yushchenko rode popular protests to power over the pro-Moscow prime minister. "Today, the United States and Ukraine affirm a new era of strategic partnership between our nations and friendship between our peoples," said a statement issued by the two leaders. The Ukrainian president is on a three-day Washington visit that will include an address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday. At a news conference, Bush took in stride Yushchenko's decision to withdraw Ukrainian troops from Iraq. --More 2321 Local Time 2021 GMT
