KIEV, Feb. 18 – Tensions between Russia and Ukraine rose after Kiev warned Moscow it may expel Russian Ambassador Viktor Chernomyrdin for making rude and undiplomatic comments in a recent newspaper interview.

The Foreign Ministry summoned Chernomyrdin in Kiev on Tuesday warning the diplomat that he may be expelled if he continues to make rude comments about Ukraine and its leadership.

The Russian Embassy on Wednesday called the warning an “unfriendly” move that may harm relations between Ukraine and Russia. A source in the Russian Foreign Ministry said Russia would take similar action if Ukraine goes ahead with the threat.

Konstantin Zatulin, a Russian lawmaker and the head of a Moscow-based think tank that focuses on the former Soviet Union, said that expelling an ambassador usually precedes the declaration of war.

“I don’t think that Ukraine will be able to get together at least a platoon of troops capable of combat that would want to go to war with Russia,” Zatulin said. “The only thing I am afraid of is that the lengthy agony of [President] Viktor Yushchenko’s regime would cause much harm to Ukraine itself and to Russian-Ukrainian relations.”

Zatulin is a persona non-grata in Ukraine for making comments that question territorial integrity of the country.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko warned Chernomyrdin on Tuesday that his recent interview to Komsomolskaya Pravda in Ukraine newspaper contained rude, harsh and undiplomatic comments.

In the interview, Chernomyrdin said the United States has been working with Ukraine to try to get the Ukrainian natural gas pipeline system under its control, and has been also fueling hostilities towards Russia.

“The truth is that the Americans are everywhere. The American ears are sticking out from everywhere,” Chernomyrdin said. “They don’t want a natural gas consortium between Russia and Ukraine. They don’t want anything.”

“I am sure [the Americans] will not let Ukraine go. They will pull Ukraine into NATO, and they themselves will get into the gas transportation system,” he said.

Chernomyrdin also made the following comments describing increasing political competition in Ukraine:

“They bite each other like dogs, swear at each other… And that’s openly, on television! Here, for example, she [Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko] signed a gas agreement needed for Ukraine, but he [Yushchenko] is bothering her: Where is the money?”

Speaking of Yushchenko, Chernomyrdin said: “He looks like a normal guy… But then this same person appears to do things like this [irritating Russia]. It’s just not him. You can kill me, but he is not able to do that. And still he does. Somebody is helping him.”

“You can’t make a deal with this Ukrainian leadership,” Chernomyrdin said. “Other people will come, let’s see. Of course, sober and normal people will come.”

Tymoshenko on Wednesday refused to comment on the development.

“I stay away from any political and diplomatic intrigues. I don’t want to comment on anything,” Tymoshenko said when asked to comment on the situation around the Russian ambassador.

Chernomyrdin, asked by the Ekho Moskvy, a Moscow-based radio, said he will continue business as usual.

“It’s like scaring an old lady with shoes on high heels,” Chernomyrdin said. “I don’t care. I am not in the rank to get scared.”

Chernomyrdin is expected to host a diplomatic reception at the Russian embassy in Kiev on Thursday. (nr/ez)