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Bringing Polish forces to Ukraine would trigger seizure of its western lands — Putin

The President also said that there are plans to create Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian units to put them on the border with Belarus

ST PETERSBURG, July 30. /TASS/. The introduction of Polish forces into the territory of Ukraine would be the beginning of seizure of Western Ukrainian lands by Poland. Russian President Vladimir Putin said this talking to reporters late on Saturday.

"Ideas are being thrown around to introduce certain Polish units in a broad sense to ensure security [in Ukraine]. <…> But if this happens, this will be the start of tearing away the western territories of Ukraine in favor of Poland," the President said.

The President also said that there are plans to create Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian units to put them on the border with Belarus. The head of state noted that he sees in these ideas a threat to the national security of Ukraine.

Putin recalled that plans to seize the territory of Western Ukraine in favor of Poland never leave the thoughts of the Polish elites.

"I think everyone understands that this is unlikely, but for some Polish political elites this idea is very tenacious and never leaves [them]. These plans are very well known," the Russian President said.

At the same time, as Putin stressed, the Poles are unlikely to agree that they need to give up their western lands in favor of Germany following the results of World War II.