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Ukrainian government says not discussing appointment of new Russian ambassador to Kiev

Ukraine's diplomat believes the refusal to scrutinize the appointment of a new ambassador will not affect Ukraine’s relations with Russia

© EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO

KIEV, August 4. /TASS/. Ukrainian government is not discussing the appointment of a new Russian ambassador to Kiev at state level, the Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister in charge of European integration, Yelena Zerkal said on Wednesday.

"The issue has been taken off the agenda," she said on Channel 5.

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Zerkal believes the refusal to scrutinize the appointment of a new ambassador will not affect Ukraine’s relations with Russia.

"We’re also restricted in the opportunities of doing full-fledged work in Russia and that’s why I think this won’t affect (relations with Russia - TASS) in any way, especially if you recall the outgoing ambassador played a minimal role in the shaping up of this relationship," she said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on July 28 relieving the incumbent ambassador to Ukraine, Mikhail Zurabov, of duties. The Kremlin press secretary, Dmitry Peskov told reporters earlier Moscow had asked preliminary consent agrement from the Kiev government to the appointment of Mikhail Babich as the next ambassador.

Babich has held the position of the Russian President's plenipotentiary representative in the Volga Federal District.

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