The U.S. Senate has passed a resolution hailing progress in the establishment of Ukrainian democracy, the Voice of America said on Sunday.

The resolution was proposed by Republican Senator Richard Lugar and Democratic Senator John Kerry and was adopted on Thursday.

The resolution recognized "the important progress made by the people of Ukraine in the establishment of democratic institutions following the presidential run-off election on February 7, 2010."

The resolution further said that "adherence by Ukraine to democratic, transparent, and fair election standards has been necessary for full integration into the democratic community."

The resolution pledged "further support for the development of a fully free and open democratic system, as well as a transparent free market economy, in Ukraine."

Ukraine voted on January 17 in the first presidential elections since the 2004 "Orange Revolution." As no candidate won a required majority of votes, the second round of the presidential poll was held on February 7, in which opposition Party of Regions Viktor Yanukovych narrowly beat then-prime minister Yulia Tymohenko to become Ukraine's new president.

WASHINGTON, March 7 (RIA Novosti)