Biden heads to Europe as Ukraine tensions rise

Vice President Biden will travel to Poland and Lithuania next week to discuss the crisis in Ukraine with European leaders.

“During his meetings, the vice president will consult on steps to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and affirm our collective defense commitments under the North Atlantic Treaty and our enduring support for all of our allies and partners in Europe,” the White House said in a statement Friday evening.

{mosads}Biden will hold talks with the president and prime minister of Poland and the presidents of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on steps to support Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The trip will follow Sunday’s vote on whether Crimea should split off from Ukraine and possibly join Russia. The U.S. says the vote shouldn’t take place.

The vice president will be in the region from Monday through Wednesday, according to the White House.

In an alert issued Friday evening, the State Department said any U.S. citizens considering travel to the Ukraine-Russia border should be aware of an escalation in tensions.