MOSCOW, January 12 (RIA Novosti) - The Kremlin is puzzled with the Ukrainian state secretary's statement accusing Russia of "a conspiracy" against the Ukrainian leadership, a source in the Russian presidential staff said Thursday.

Oleh Rybachuk told Ukrainian media that the recent Russian-Ukrainian natural gas dispute had been artificially stirred for political purposes.

The source said this statement contradicted the constructive discussion of the bilateral relations, including the gas issue, by Russian and Ukrainian presidents Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yushchenko in Astana Wednesday.

The source added that the staff regarded this statement as an inappropriate attempt to make some backdated accusations and would hardly promote the implementation of top-level agreements.