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LONDON: Russia's foreign spy chief accused the United States and Poland on Thursday (Apr 28) of plotting to gain a sphere of influence in Ukraine, a claim denied by Warsaw as disinformation aimed at sowing distrust among Kyiv's supporters.

Sergei Naryshkin, the chief of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), cited unpublished intelligence that he said showed the United States and Poland, NATO allies, were plotting to restore Polish control over part of western Ukraine.

Washington and Warsaw are working on plans to establish Poland's tight military and political control over its historical possessions in Ukraine," Naryshkin said in a rare statement released by the SVR.

Poland denied the claim and said it was disinformation spread by Moscow. Poland has ruled some territories that are now part of Ukraine at different times in the past, most recently between the two world wars. Western Ukraine, including the city of Lviv, were absorbed into the Soviet Union at the end of World War Two. 

Russian spy chief says US, Poland plotting division of Ukraine. Updated: 29 Apr 2022 05:46AM)

LONDON: Russia's foreign spy chief accused the United States and Poland on Thursday. Cited unpublished intelligence that showed United States and Poland, NATO allies, were plotting to restore Polish control over part of western Ukraine.

Poland denied the claim and said it was disinformation spread by Moscow.

"The lies about Poland's alleged plans to attack western Ukraine have been repeated for several year.

Poland has ruled some territories that are now part of Ukraine at different times in the past, most recently between the two world wars.

The SVR said United States was discussing with Poland a plan under which Polish "peacekeeping" forces without a NATO mandate would enter parts of western Ukraine where the chance of a confrontation with Russian forces was low.

The SVR, which after the 1991 fall of the Soviet Union took on most of the Soviet-era KGB's foreign spying responsibilities, did not publish its evidence, and Reuters was unable to verify the accusation.