Russia slams Polish parliament's World War II resolution
, Nazi Germany, foreground left, and Soviet Red Army, foreground right, officers salute the Nazi swastika flag during their joint parade in Brest-Litovsk celebrating a border demarcation in Poland following Hitler's invasion of Poland AP

Russia slams Polish parliament's World War II resolution

Sep 24, 2009 at 17:55
MOSCOW - Russia is lashing out at the Polish parliament over its resolution condemning the Soviet invasion of Poland 70 years ago.

The Slavic neighbors' vastly different viewpoints on World War II have sparked increased friction around the anniversary of its outbreak. Russian leaders bristle at criticism of Moscow's actions and reject efforts to equate the Soviet Union with Hitler's Germany.

The Polish parliament's resolution Wednesday condemned the Soviet attack on Poland in September 1939 and the Nazi-Soviet pact that preceded it.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Thursday that the resolution will damage efforts to improve strained relations. It said Prime Minister Vladimir Putin had signaled Russia's readiness for constructive ties in a newspaper article last month.