Vice President Joe Biden is in the Ukraine today, where he’s been meeting top leaders there including Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko. Officially, this is Biden’s 6th overseas trip since being sworn in as President Obama’s No. 2. But for Biden, these trips are a little like a reunion tour. Most of the leaders the Veep’s met with he already knew back from his travels as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee. That means there’s an established rapport there, no awkward tip-toeing around—not that Biden would if he could. Reporters covering Biden on these trips usually get to hear some interesting moments between the two leaders—not the standard chit chat on how much they enjoyed meeting one another and how they'll work closely together, yadda yadda. Take for instance Biden’s sit-down with Yushchenko today, which just so happened to occur in a bar. (The two were allegedly drinking Cokes, according to the Veep’s office. Uh huh.) According to the pool report, the press was taken in to witness the two leaders in the middle of their conversation. One reporter overheard Yushchenko talking about Ukrainian churches. A few moments later, Biden was overheard complementing Yushchenko on his country’s, um, population."I cannot believe that a Frenchman visiting Kiev went back home and told his colleagues he discovered something and didn't say he discovered the most beautiful women in the world. That's my observation,” Biden declared. "It's certain you have so many beautiful women." Yep, that sounds like our Joe. For the record, your Gaggler, who traveled with Biden on trips to Belgium, the Balkans and Lebanon earlier this year, can confirm this is really how Biden talks with every foreign leader. Come to think of it, your Gaggler is pretty she heard Biden say roughly the same thing about the women in Sarajevo. (And we already know he loves those girls in Texas.) Bottom line: the diplomacy seems to work. The other leaders love Biden. No word on Yushchenko's reaction today, but we're guessing he didn't disagree with the Veep's assessment.
