Russia's ambassador to Poland has backtracked from an accusation that Poland bore some blame for the outbreak of World War II, saying his words were misinterpreted.
Sergei Andreyev was summoned by the Polish Foreign Ministry after he said on September 25 that Warsaw had blocked "the creation of an anti-Nazi coalition" which made Poland "co-responsible for World War II."
Speaking to reporters in Warsaw on September 28, Andreev said, "I did not mean to say that Poland is co-responsible for the outbreak of World War II."
"I regret that I wasn't sufficiently precise," he added.
Warsaw said Andreev’s earlier comment "challenges historical truth and invokes some of the most mendacious interpretations of events, as resorted to during Stalinist and Communist years."
Up to 6 million Poles were killed in World War II, more than one-sixth of the country's prewar population.