He spoke shortly after outgoing Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma met in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin. During that meeting, Mr. Putin criticized calls for a new election in Ukraine.

• 布什是在即将离任的乌克兰总统库奇马在莫斯科会晤俄罗斯总统普京之后不久讲这番话的。普京在会面中批评了乌克兰进行新选举的呼吁。