Ukraine warns Russian ambassador on possible expulsion

KIEV, February 17 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine has warned Russian Ambassador Viktor Chernomyrdin that he could be expelled from the country over "unfriendly and extremely undiplomatic assessments, comments and statements regarding Ukraine and its leadership."

Ukraine`s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that Chernomyrdin had been summoned to a meeting at which Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko had informed him of the situation.

"It was noted that such actions by the ambassador run contrary to the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, are a gross violation of the norms of diplomatic ethics and international law, and are incompatible with the status of the head of a diplomatic mission in the country," the ministry said.

It also said Russia`s general consuls in the Ukrainian cities of Kharkov and Odessa and certain other Russian Embassy diplomats had violated the Vienna convention.

Chernomyrdin has repeatedly criticized Ukraine`s position on gas issues. In particular, in a January 18 interview with the Vesti TV channel he called the situation with gas transit via Ukraine "nonsense" and "buffoonery," and said that "everything proceeds from Ukraine`s leadership."

"Either they are unaware of what they are doing, or they are aware but do it on purpose," he said.

Russia suspended gas supplies to Ukraine on January 1 after the former Soviet neighbors failed to reach an agreement on a new contract for 2009. A week later, Gazprom cut off deliveries to the European Union, saying Ukraine was stealing gas intended for EU consumers.

The standoff was resolved on January 19 when gas supply and transit contracts were signed following negotiations between Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Yulia Tymoshenko.

sections: Politics, World News