Opinion: Yanukovych's main goal is to convince Americans he's committed to keeping democracy alive

U.S. officials praised Ukraine's fledgling democracy when Viktor Yanukovych was blocked from becoming president after flawed elections two years ago, Washington Post reported.

Now he's visiting Washington as Ukraine's duly elected prime minister, coming with the burden of convincing Americans he's committed to keeping democracy alive.

"The main goal that Yanukovych is coming with is to establish some credibility with the administration," said Steven Pifer, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and now a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Yanukovych was to speak to the group.