WASHINGTON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Ukranian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich had low-profile meetings with two top U.S. officials on Monday as the Bush administration sought to avoid getting entangled in Ukraine's internal power struggle.

Yanukovich, who is vying for influence with pro-Western Ukranian President Viktor Yushchenko and who is seen as more friendly to Moscow, had talks with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

"This visit demonstrates our desire to work with all the factions in Ukraine and that we respect the fact that Yanukovich became prime minister as a result of free and fair parliamentary elections," said Cheney spokeswoman Lea Anne McBride.

State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said Yanukovich's talks with Rice covered Ukraine's accession to the World Trade Organization, trade and investment climate, energy security, regional issues, integration with Europe and ongoing reforms.

Yanukovich was not scheduled to see U.S. President George W. Bush and Washington did little to publicize his visit. He and Rice did not hold a news conference or pose for photographs for the media, and there was no coverage of a ceremony to mark the signing of a nearly $45 million aid deal for Ukraine.

The U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), which doles out some U.S. aid to countries, agreed to give Ukraine the money for a two-year program to combat corruption.

A U.S. official said the low-key visit partly reflected a desire by Washington to avoid appearing to help one side or the other in the internal Ukranian power struggle.

Ukraine's parliament, mounting its toughest challenge yet to Yushchenko, on Friday dismissed two ministers who played a key role in the 2004 "Orange Revolution" and who promoted his pro-Western policies. (Additional reporting by Steve Holland)

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