(VOVworld) - A Ukrainian foreign ministry official said Ukraine has rejected Russia's proposed candidate for its next ambassador to Kiev.

Russian Ambassador to Ukraine Mikhail Zurabov (Source: REUTERS/VASILY FEDOSENKO)

Olena Zerkal, Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for European Integration said in an interview on Channel 5 on Wednesday that Kiev has rejected the candidate without giving any reason. The Kremlin proposed Mikhail Babich, who has held a number of senior posts in Russia including with the Federal Security Service (FSB), to replace Mikhail Zurabov as Ambassador to Ukraine. 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is still offering Babich as its proposed ambassador to Ukraine. If the Ukraine decides to downgrade diplomatic relations and considers a reduced mode of diplomatic relations to be appropriate, then that's Ukraine’s decision.