Moscow, May 30 (IANS/RIA Novosti): The US ambassador to Russia should remain diplomatic in his public comments and not jeopardise his country's ties with Russia, a Russian presidential aide said.

"The leaders of both countries are set for constructive dialogue. Ambassadors should act in the same spirit and not be at odds with their leadership," said Yury Ushakov.

Ushakov's comments came after remarks made last week by US envoy Michael McFaul at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow. He reportedly told students Russia had tried to bribe Kyrgyzstan to deny America the use of an air base in the former Soviet republic.

He also joked that the US had offered a "smaller" bribe.

The Russian foreign ministry protested over his comments, terming them "unprofessional" and going "far beyond the bounds of diplomatic etiquette".

It expressed "utmost bewilderment" at McFaul's remarks, prompting him to write in his Twitter message: "Still learning the craft of speaking more diplomatically."