Biden Welcomes Progress In Ukraine Crisis

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden is welcoming progress toward diffusing the political crisis in Ukraine.

Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych called Biden to offer an update on Tuesday. That's when Ukraine's prime minister resigned and parliament repealed anti-protest laws that had sparked violent clashes with protesters.

It's the third time Biden and Yanukovych have spoken in less than a week.

The White House says Biden urged Yanukovych to sign the repeal of the anti-protest laws without delay. Biden encouraged the Ukrainian president to keep working with the opposition. He's calling for an amnesty law and a new government that will move Ukraine in Europe's direction.

The protests erupted after Yanukovych turned toward Russia for a bailout loan instead of a deal with the European Union, but have since expanded in scope.

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