Medvedev in Poland, then to Brussels

WARSAW, Poland, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will discuss energy cooperation and other issues in Poland before going to Brussels for a European Union summit, an aide said.

Medvedev arrived in Poland Monday to meet with President Bronislaw Komorowski and Prime Minster Donald Tusk, RIA Novosti reported.

The Russian president is expected to discuss bilateral ties, including energy cooperation, along with European security issues.

On Tuesday, Medvedev will visit the Soviet War Memorial in Warsaw before leaving for Brussels.

Medvedev aide Sergei Prikhodko said he expects the visit to be "very positive."

"The sides intend to strengthen current positive trends in bilateral relations and create conditions for the improvement of Russian-Polish ties in all spheres," Prikhodko said.

Relations between Poland and Russia have been hampered for decades by a variety of historical disputes but have improved since the two sides were drawn together in the aftermath of an April 10 plane crash in western Russia that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski.

Prior to the Medvedev's announced visit, Komorowski said he would work to speed up rapprochement between the two countries.

"The process of rapprochement and reconciliation of our countries has started and I, as the Polish president, will contribute to this," Komorowski said.