Leaders of Poland, Ukraine to meet on gas crisis

WARSAW (Reuters) - Polish President Lech Kaczynski, an outspoken critic of Russia, said on Tuesday he had invited his Ukrainian counterpart next week for talks on the natural gas crisis which has badly disrupted supplies to Europe.

Moscow and Kiev are locked in a dispute over Russian gas exports that has cut deliveries to many European countries. Russia and Ukraine blame each other for the crisis.

"During the meeting with President Yushchenko, which will also be attended by Ukraine's foreign minister, I think we will try to agree something on this matter (the gas row)," Kaczynski told a news conference.

The two men will meet in Wisla, southern Poland, on January 14.

Kaczynski, who strongly criticized Russia during its short war with Georgia last summer, refrained from blaming Moscow directly for the gas crisis but he said the European Union should reduce its reliance on Russian gas.

He also took a swipe at the EU for not standing up more to Russia, a country he has previously branded as imperialistic.

"The EU should conduct a slightly tougher policy. Once again we have discovered that the current policy toward Russia has not been effective," said Kaczynski, a conservative Eurosceptic, adding that "we are not the enemies of Russia."

Kaczynski supports Ukraine's bid to join the EU and NATO, of which Poland is a member. He also championed Georgia's cause during that country's brief war with Russia last summer.

Like much of eastern Europe, Poland saw a further fall in its gas supplies on Tuesday but it is less reliant than some countries on deliveries via Ukraine. The Polish government approved a motion allowing for a cut in gas supplies to industry in order to protect private households and public services.