Bush to visit Ukraine, Romania, Croatia

WASHINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush will visit Ukraine and Croatia when he is on his way to attend the April 2-4 NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania, the White House said Thursday.

"He (Bush)'s going to Ukraine, Romania and Croatia," U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe told local mass media.

Bush's European tour would run from March 31 to April 5, according to Johndroe.

Prior to the official announcement by the White House, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said in Brussels that Bush will make an official visit to Ukraine from March 31 to April 1.

Bush's scheduled visit to Ukraine comes days before an April 2-4 NATO summit in Bucharest where Western allies are due to discuss Ukraine's request for NATO membership.