KIEV, Jan. 31 ??“ Volodymyr Ohryzko, a pro-Western deputy foreign minister, on Wednesday was appointed as Ukraine??™s acting foreign minister following the resignation of Boris Tarasiuk from the post.

Ohryzko is the chief negotiator with Russia on the sensitive issue of stationing of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol as Ukraine seeks to slap restrictions on the fleet.

President Viktor Yushchenko picked Ohryzko for the position, which was quickly approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. The appointment shows that Yushchenko has been determined to continue Ukraine??™s pro-Western foreign policy despite criticism from Russia.

???There will be no changes in the foreign policy,??? Ohryzko said shortly after a Cabinet meeting.

Meanwhile, the appointment of Ohryzko is temporary and will serve only until Parliament approves the new foreign minister. The pro-Russian government coalition is not likely to back Ohryzko at the post of the minister amid concerns that he would probably persist with the accession to NATO, analysts said.

Sergei Markov, the head of Moscow-based Institute for Political Studies, the Kremlin-linked think tank, on Wednesday accused Ohryzko of being biased against Russia.

???Ohryzko hates Russia and the Russians,??? Markov said in a report carried by RIA Novosti, Russia??™s state-owned newswire. ???The majority of people at [Ukraine??™s] foreign ministry are people like that.???

Tarasiuk, an architect of Ukraine??™s pro-Western policy that has been seeking to rapidly join NATO, was forced to quit the job following two-month confrontation with the pro-Russian coalition.

Analysts said that Russia has been probably putting pressure on Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych to force Tarasiuk out of the government in order to slow down Ukraine??™s pro-Western foreign policy.

Russia, the only supplier of natural gas to Ukraine, has been signaling that it may sharply increase gas prices or reduce gas supplies should Kiev persist with the pro-Western foreign policy.

Russia resorted to suspending gas supplies to Ukraine in early January 2006 citing a price dispute, but some Western governments had accused Russia of using energy as a tool of blackmail.

Oleksandr Chaliy, deputy chief of staff at the presidential office, is currently seen as Yushchenko??™s most likely nomination to the post of the foreign minister.

Vitaly Shybko, the head of Parliament??™s foreign affairs committee, said that lawmakers are prepared to debate Yushchenko??™s any nomination to the post of the minister as soon as next week. Parliament is currently in recess. (tl/ez)