Russia: Poland will have to 'change mind about Ukraine'

A military vehicle drive next to the covered body of a policeman killed during an assault at the Donetsk Regional Police Department is covered on the sidewalk in Donetsk, Ukraine, 01 July 2014. A group of pro-russian rebels tried to seize control of a police department in Donetsk but were repelled by the Ukrainian policemen: photo - EPA/STR

“I am absolutely convinced that our Polish partners will have to sooner or later change their point of view. They will have to come back to the issue of the benefits they can derive from cooperation with Russia in the political and economic spheres,” the ITAR-TASS news agency quotes Aleksandr Alekseev as saying at a two-yearly meeting of Russia's ambassadors with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Poland has been giving strong support to new Ukraine president Petro Poroshenko and for closer ties between the EU and the ex-Soviet state, much to the displeasure of Russia, which sees Ukraine as part of its sphere of influence.

President Putin has accused Poland and the West of destabilising the situation in the east of Ukraine, where pro-Russian forces have been involved in violent clashes with security forces.

A ceasefire in the region ended on Monday night, with government forces launching ground assaults and air bombardments, including heavy artillery shelling around the rebel-controlled cities of Slaviansk and Donetsk. (pg)