MOSCOW, June 26./ITAR-TASS/. Upper house lawmakers are seeking a positive Ukrainian response to Russia’s rejecting use of its army in the neighbour state.

"We look forward to adequate steps from Ukraine which could settle the situation,” said Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko in a message to an international parliamentary forum in Moscow on Thursday.

She noted that the international situation is becoming more alarming. Western attitude towards Russia also has affected inter-parliamentary contacts, many scheduled events has been cancelled.

“We are certainly not to blame for it,” Matviyenko said. “Russia is open for dialogue. We are ready to look for possible ways of easing international tension.”

Matviyenko's comments follow Federation Council approval of President Vladimir Putin's proposal for cancelling its own March 1 resolution authorising the head of state to use Russia’s armed forces in Ukraine.