Yushchenko target of Medvedev ire

MOSCOW, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Comments that Kiev was at fault for deteriorating relations with Moscow were aimed at President Viktor Yushchenko, not the entire country, Moscow said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had tapped former Health Minister Mikhail Zurabov as the new ambassador to Ukraine. In a message to Yushchenko, Medvedev said he delayed sending the envoy to his post over claims Kiev was pursuing anti-Russian efforts.

In a clarification from his office, Medvedev said his message was meant for Yushchenko explicitly and not the entire nation, RIA Novosti reports.

"There is a calm and balanced assertion of how the policies of Ukraine's incumbent president have affected Russian-Ukrainian relations," said deputy Kremlin administrative chief Alexei Gromov. "Therefore, the message was aimed at him personally."

Medvedev had pointed to a series of moves, from supporting anti-Russian rebels in South Ossetia to lingering gas disputes with Kiev, as the reason for his "deep concern" about the state of bilateral relations.

"Bypassing Russia, Ukraine's political leaders do deals with the European Union on supplying gas -- gas from Russia -- and sign a document that completely contradicts the Russian-Ukrainian agreements reached in January this year," Medvedev had said in his message.

Russian energy monopoly Gazprom cut gas shipments to Ukraine briefly in January following disputes over gas debts and contracts.

Medvedev said he was looking forward to working with the new leadership in Ukraine following the presidential elections in January. Yushchenko is trailing in the polls with a popularity rating in the single digits.