U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush arrive at Borispol airport outside Kiev, March 31, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

    KIEV, March 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush landed in the Ukrainian capital Kiev late on Monday, kicking off his two-day state visit to Ukraine.

    Bush is expected to hold talks with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on bilateral relations and Ukraine's bid to join the NATO Membership Action Plan.

    Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vladimir Ogryzko said earlier during Bush's visit the two countries will reaffirm their strategic partnership, approve a road map on bilateral cooperation and sign a series of documents.

    Ogryzko stressed the significance of Bush's visit on the eve of a NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania, that will discuss Ukraine's NATO bid.

    It is the first visit to Ukraine by an incumbent U.S. president in the recent eight years. In 2000, his predecessor Bill Clinton paid a state visit to the eastern European country.