Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has rejected sharp criticism from his Russian counterpart, saying the Kremlin is to blame for a downturn in bilateral ties.
Yushchenko is responding to an open letter from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who has accused him of conducting a hostile policy toward Russia.
Medvedev criticized Yushchenko’s government for supplying weapons to Georgia, striving to join NATO and endangering Russian gas supplies to Europe, among other complaints.
Yushchenko said in a letter to Medvedev released Thursday that Ukraine’s ties with Georgia were in line with international law.
He urges the Kremlin to respect Ukraine’s sovereign right to join NATO and says he is disappointed by the message from Medvedev.
