President Vladimir Putin had delivered this message to a gathering of European businessmen in Moscow on Tuesday, said the official, who asked to remain anonymous.

"This does not mean that Russia is refusing to ratify the Kyoto protocol. Quite the reverse, we are aiming to ratify the Kyoto protocol, but we do not want this document to be against Russia's interests," the official said.

"Because in its current form, it does not meet Russia's interests and effectively it means we must assume obligations which would hamper the country's economic growth," he added.

The Kremlin official said that Russia was in negotiations with the other signatories on its demands, and would not proceed with ratification if they were refused.

"Of course not, the president has said this quite clearly," he said.

SPACE.WIRE