Bush to skip Ukraine visit, go to Hungary instead

WASHINGTON, June 8 (Reuters) US President George W Bush has dropped tentative plans to visit Ukraine later this month and will instead go to Hungary to mark the 50th anniversary of the Hungarian revolution against Soviet domination.

The White House today said Mr Bush would go to Budapest on June 22 after a meeting with European leaders in Vienna, capital of neighbouring Austria.

Although the Kiev stop was never officially announced, US officials had discussed it privately.

US officials have touted Ukraine's Orange Revolution in 2004 as an example of the spread of global democracy, but the country has been unable to form a government since a March election because of arguments over who should get the most important jobs.

A visit to Kiev might have irked Russia, which has had some tensions with Ukraine over natural gas and other issues.

Mr Bush has been trying to enlist the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the international effort to contain Iran's nuclear ambitions. He plans to go to St Petersburg in July, where Russia is hosting a Group of Eight summit.

In his June 22 visit to Budapest, Mr Bush will participate in the commemoration of the Hungarian revolution and hold talks with Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom.

Mr Bush said he also wanted to ''underscore the success of the US-European partnership in securing freedom in the region, and highlight the lessons offered from Hungary's successful transition from tyranny to free-market democracy.'' REUTERS SI RAI2042