Ukraine berated by Putin over Georgia

UKRAINE:UKRAINE WEATHERED Russian criticism of its role in supplying arms to Georgia yesterday, amid signs Kiev's "orange coalition" might reform and avert snap elections.

But despite strong signals that they might call a truce in their chronic feud, on/off allies President Viktor Yushchenko and prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko also argued over the head of state's alleged decision to commandeer his premier's jet, in what her supporters dubbed an attempt to scupper her trip to meet her Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

At his villa outside Moscow, Mr Putin lambasted Kiev for selling weapons to Georgia before the August war over separatist South Ossetia. His comments added tension to talks over the future of gas supplies from Russia to Ukraine, which is a key transit route for energy heading for the European Union.

"It is deeply regrettable that Ukraine thought it possible to deliver arms to the conflict zone," Mr Putin said. "States normally behave with greater restraint."

Formerly a strong critic of Russia and its alleged attempts to dominate its former Soviet neighbours, Ms Tymoshenko has softened her stance towards Moscow recently, as her power struggle with Mr Yushchenko intensified.

He has accused her of seeking Moscow's backing for a bid for the presidency, and denounced as "treason" her decision to join Ukraine's pro-Kremlin opposition last month in passing laws to weaken the powers of the head of state.

Mr Yushchenko's allies withdrew from the coalition with Ms Tymoshenko's party in response, setting Ukraine on track for its third election in as many years.

After Ms Tymoshenko said she would accept the president's demands to resurrect their coalition, her party joined Mr Yushchenko's in a vote yesterday to rescind three of the five laws that triggered the alliance's collapse.

Officials said talks would resume on reuniting the team that led the 2004 Orange Revolution, which brought Mr Yushchenko and Ms Tymoshenko to power.