Moscow Protests 'Politicized' U.S. Comments On Gas Dispute

U.S. Secretary of State Rice (L) with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov (file photo) 11 January 2006 -- Russia has again accused the United States of politicizing Moscow's gas talks with Ukraine.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had protested to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the "inappropriateness" of what he called "openly politicized, biased commentaries" on talks between Russia and Ukraine to resolve their dispute over gas prices.

Rice last week said that Moscow's demand that Ukraine pay more than four times the previous price for Russian natural gas supplies had an "obviously political motive." She suggested Russia's behavior showed it was unprepared to be a responsible energy supplier.

(AP/lenta.ru)