Ukraine crisis: President Poroshenko in key US visit

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko is to begin a key visit to the US to seek further support to tackle what he describes as Russian aggression, the BBC reported.

Mr Poroshenko will hold talks with US President Barack Obama before addressing a joint session of Congress.

Mr Poroshenko is flying to the US from Canada, where he told MPs Ukraine had bid "the last farewell" to the USSR after signing an EU association deal.

Ukraine accuses Russia of supporting rebels in its east. Moscow denies this.

More than 3,000 people have died in fighting between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian rebels in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions since April.

A fragile ceasefire agreed on 5 September is holding, despite accusations of shelling by both sides.

On Tuesday, Ukraine's MPs approved a bill granting self-rule to parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions - a move described as "capitulation" by some lawmakers.

In Washington, Mr Poroshenko will also give a speech at the influential Atlantic Council think-tank.

During the state visit he is expected to push for closer political and economic ties between his former Soviet republic and the West, and seek further financial support for Ukraine's struggling economy.