As part of a two-day visit to Kiev, Vice President Joe Biden told Ukraine leaders that the U.S. does not plan to withdraw their backing, despite diplomacy relations with Russia.

The New York Times reports that Biden spoke with President Petro O. Poroshenko, reassuring that the U.S. will continue to stand by Ukraine, during its conflict with seperatists with pro-Russian ties. Biden also promised the Ukraine an additional $190 million in American aid.

Biden called upon Russian President Vladimir Putin to follow a cease-fire agreement that was reached earlier this year. Officials in Ukraine have expressed concerns over what Russia’s involvement in the Middle East may mean for their country. U.S. officials suspect that Russia’s involvement in the Syrian conflict serves to distract the attention of the world away from the conflict in Ukraine, and possibly even break down international sanctions.

President Obama has made attempts to reaffirm that the situations in Ukraine and Syria are separate issues, and sent Vice President Biden to the Ukraine to make that clear. Even in the event that Russia and the U.S. work together to end the Syrian civil war and fight against the Islamic state, the U.S. still plans to pressure Russia to end the issues in Ukraine.

Biden told Ukrainians to put their own differences aside and do more to fight corruption, better the economy, and restructure their finances. “It is absolutely critical for Ukraine, in order to be stable and prosperous, and part of a secure Europe, to definitely, thoroughly, completely root out the cancer of corruption,” Biden said.

Mr. Biden will address the Ukrainian Parliament on Tuesday, speaking on many of the same points presented to President Poroshenko.